BAINBRIDGE – Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the City of Conneaut $19.5 million to support its FY20 Port Infrastructure Program. This grant will help the Port of Conneaut complete critical infrastructure developments, including the connection of truck and rail freight to the Great Lakes deep-water port. These infrastructure projects are expected to create 168 high-paying manufacturing jobs, 1,500 direct jobs in construction and 162 local, indirect jobs.

“This is great news for not only the Conneaut community, but also for all of Northeast Ohio,” said Joyce. “Conneaut is one of the most frequented ports on Lake Erie – it’s where we receive Lake Superior iron ore and ship coal, petroleum, limestone and steel. I was proud to advocate on behalf of the port’s application to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao and look forward to seeing these tax dollars returned to the people of Conneaut. This grant will ensure that the port can continue to make significant contributions to Northeast Ohio’s economy.”

Joyce consistently advocates at the federal level on behalf of Northeast Ohio’s ports and harbors. On May 22, 2020, Joyce wrote to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Elaine Chao, supporting the City of Conneaut’s grant application. Additionally, the funding that made this grant possible was appropriated through H.R. 1865, which passed the House with Joyce’s support in December of 2019 and funded the Port Infrastructure Development Program with $225 million for FY20. In January, he also wrote a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers’ Commanding General and Chief of Engineers and the Assistant Secretary of Civil Works requesting funding to assist the Ashtabula and Conneaut harbors with their Dredge Material Management Plans.

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