Economic Boost and Jobs Likely Headed to the Port of Brownsville

The waterways here in the Port of Brownsville are about to get much busier.

The US Transportation Administration has recently designated the Port of Brownsville to Port Manatee Florida a Marine Highway Corridor.
"The operation includes a container barge operation and goods are transported for example from the Port of Brownsville through out Florida, through out the Southeast and up into the East coast."

With the official designation the government will offer preferential treatment to ports with the designation when it comes time to handing out federal money. Up for grabs, nearly seven million dollars. The port is hoping if they're awarded a portion of that money to expand their operations even more, and with more work to be done, more man power will be needed.

"It could lead to the creation of hundreds of jobs for not only Brownsville, but for the region as well."

A couple of other bonuses this new marine highway provides...

"The nautical distance between the Port of Brownsville and Port Manatee, you're looking at about 800 nautical miles, that same distance through land, you're looking at about 1600 miles, so that's going to lead to a reduction in costs to businesses."

Ortiz adds for every voyage along the marine highway, between 600 to 800 18 wheelers are off the road, helping to reduce traffic on the highways and reducing the greenhouse emissions the massive trucks put off.

In the meantime, the Port of Brownsville waits to hear how much money they'll receive so they can begin planning more transports along the marine highway from the Port of Brownsville to Port Manatee Florida.