Congresswoman Kathy Castor announced today a significant boost in jobs for Tampa’s port community under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With money heading to Gulf Marine Repair, the Port of Tampa and the I-4/ Crosstown Connector, Tampa’s port industry is well-poised to hire workers to support one of the most significant economic engines in the Tampa Bay area.

“This is a tremendous shot in the arm for our economy,” Castor said. “We’ve got to keep the momentum going. Let’s put a lot of folks back to work with these Recovery Act dollars.”

The Port of Tampa is receiving $2.2 million for pier reconstruction and bulkhead replacement at the REK pier. More than 280 jobs will be retained as a result of the Recovery Act money. The bulkhead is on the brink of collapse, which could lead to a complete shut down of the port.

“The REK Pier and the Port of Tampa keep businesses throughout the region moving because the REK pier is where all the fuel for west-central Florida is unloaded,” Castor said. “It could have been disastrous if the REK pier fell into total disrepair.”

Castor also announced that four ship repair services will receive a total of $10 million through the Recovery Act, including $4.1 million for Gulf Marine Repair. The work at Gulf Marine will support about 50 jobs. The other ship repair services also are dedicated to adding new jobs.

“We’ll put a lot of hands back to work and create new jobs at the same time,” said Rick Watts, vice president of operations at Gulf Marine Repair. “The ship repair industry is a vital part of the Port of Tampa and the Tampa Bay area and provides high-paying, blue-collar jobs.”

Castor also highlighted the importance of Recovery Act money for the I-4/ Crosstown Connector. The connector will alleviate traffic, improve economic activity and protect the historic character of Ybor City by taking large truck traffic of our historic district’s streets. It also will support approximately 12,000 jobs.

“”Not until the Recovery Act was our community able to begin the I-4/ Crosstown link for the Port,” Castor said. “It will create thousands and thousands of new jobs.”

Richard Wainio, chief executive and port director of Tampa Port Authority, explained the important role the Port plays in the area’s economy. The Port drives an economic impact of $8 billion.

“The Port of Tampa is not only Florida’s largest cargo seaport, but it also supports almost 100,000 jobs in our region,” Wainio said. “The Port is the largest economic engine in West Central Florida and the Port’s vast and diverse commercial operations are bolstering our region during this difficult economic period.”

Stuart Rogel, president and chief executive of the Tampa Bay Partnership, joined Castor for today’s announcement.

“The I-4 Selmon Connector project has been a top regional priority for 20 years and stimulus dollars will now help us to create an efficient, seamless intermodal freight corridor linking the interstate system and the Port – a major regional economic engine,” Rogel said. “The four-year project is expected to create or support some 12,000 jobs and is timed to facilitate the expansion of the Port infrastructure to accommodate market growth which will flow from the Panama Canal expansion in 2014. Securing funding for projects such as this will have real long-term significance and will create the jobs we need to jump-start our economy and build a sustainable future.”

Port of Tampa:
$2.2 million  for pier reconstruction and bulkhead replacement. Roughly 280 jobs will be retained.

Crosstown Connector:
$105 million. Estimated to support more than 12,000 jobs.

Ship Repair Services:
Gulf Marine Repair Corporation: $4,159,857 for a drydock expansion

International Ship and Marine Services, Inc.: $2,228,307 drydock life extension. International Ship is committed to adding to its current employee base of 231.

Tampa Ship LLC: $2,270,172 for a panel line. Tampa Ship, with its 500 employees, is creating new jobs and is modernizing its shipyard.

Riverhawk Marine, LLC: $1,290,246 for travelift and syncrolift control upgrade