Sen. Moody Secures $11M Federal Grant for Port of Fernandina Infrastructure

Senator Ashley Moody has helped the Ocean Highway and Port Authority land an $11 million federal grant to address flooding and structural damage at the Port of Fernandina, according to a press release issued today.

The Port Infrastructure Development Program funding will support flood mitigation and dock rehabilitation projects, including drainage system upgrades, water capture infrastructure, pumps for surge and rainfall events, crane rail repair, and structural reinforcement. The port has faced chronic flooding and deterioration that threatened its operational capacity and worker safety.

"Florida's ports are critical to our economy, supporting thousands of jobs and helping businesses move goods across the country and around the world," Moody said in a statement. The Port of Fernandina, located on the Amelia River, supports more than 4,600 jobs and generates nearly $1.3 billion in annual economic contributions to Northeast Florida, according to port authority data.

Moody had previously urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to approve the funding request in a June letter to Maritime Administration Administrator Captain Stephen Carmel. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) also backed the grant, calling the port "a small but mighty, strategically vital, and irreplaceable asset" for the region's supply chain.