WILMINGTON, Del. – In a joint announcement, Governor John Carney, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, along with Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, all representing Delaware, disclosed the allocation of a $50 million grant under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant is set to bolster the expansion of the Port of Wilmington’s Edgemoor terminal.
The PIDP is a discretionary grant program funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, administered by the U.S. Maritime Administration, and awarded competitively to projects aimed at enhancing the safety, efficiency, and reliability of goods movement within ports. The Edgemoor terminal expansion project, part of the former Chemours titanium dioxide production facility, includes the construction of an all-electric container yard and a new truck gate. These additions are expected to increase cargo capacity, enhance cargo resiliency, reduce emissions, improve safety, and supplement the existing Port of Wilmington.
Governor John Carney expressed his gratitude, stating, “For decades, jobs at the Port of Wilmington have been a gateway into the middle class for thousands of workers and their families. This successful grant from the Port Infrastructure Development Program will help make the planned Edgemoor expansion a reality and bring new good-paying, full-time union jobs to Wilmington and the region.”
The Port of Wilmington plays a vital role in supporting over 19,000 jobs, and the Edgemoor terminal expansion is seen as a significant economic driver for both Delaware and the surrounding region. Senator Tom Carper, chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, noted, “Edgemoor’s plans include improved safety and emissions, which is a win-win for the folks who work and live there. This major investment from the Department of Transportation is a giant step forward for the Port of Wilmington’s plans for the future.”
U.S. Senator Chris Coons, a key negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, added, “This expansion will create good-paying construction jobs and opportunities for the men and women of the International Longshoreman’s Association. I’m proud to have helped deliver these federal funds, which will remediate a legacy industrial site and enable the electrification of the port to make Edgemoor one of the most energy-efficient and environmentally friendly ports in the country.”
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester emphasized the importance of this funding, stating, “These federal dollars will expand the Port’s capacity to export and import more goods through our state, all while reducing emissions, growing our economy, and creating good-paying jobs at the same time.”
Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, who also serves as chairman of the Diamond State Port Corporation, expressed his gratitude and highlighted the positive impact of this grant on Delaware’s economy. “The Port of Wilmington is a vital economic engine for Delaware, and this federal support will help make it stronger in the future.”
Jim Maravelias, president of the Delaware State AFL-CIO, emphasized the significance of the expansion project, stating, “The expansion will create well-paying jobs for generations to come, and this monetary boost is exactly what Delaware needs at this moment in time.”
William B. Ashe, Jr., ILA Executive Council and president of ILA Local 1694, thanked all those involved in securing the grant, stating, “This investment from the U.S. Department of Transportation further illustrates the deep commitment Senator Carper, Senator Coons, and Representative Blunt Rochester have to Delaware’s critical maritime infrastructure.”
Co-CEOs of Enstructure, Matthew Satnick, and Philippe De Montigny, expressed their enthusiasm to work with various stakeholders in making the Edgemoor development a reality.
The grant marks a significant step forward in realizing the Edgemoor terminal expansion, which promises to strengthen the Port of Wilmington and the economic prosperity of the region.