Scott Pushes Sea Port Expansions
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
By: Amy Green

October 16, 2013 | WMFE - Governor Rick Scott wants Florida to be the shipping channel into the East Coast. He announced Wednesday he'll request $34.8 million for Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and Port of Tampa during the spring legislative session.

[Photo: Port Canaveral]

Scott said Latin America's booming economy and the Panama Canal's expansion will mean more activity for the state's 15 ports.

"We will be the No. 1 shipping state in the country. If we do our job there is no way that we fail."

Port Canaveral Director John Walsh welcomed the request.

"It will allow for some of our new cruise terminal expansion to bring more tourists into the Brevard County and eastern Central Florida region as well as our new container terminal. It will be a very modern container terminal."

The governor also emphasized a need for more manufacturing jobs.

Port Canaveral would get $9.7 million. Port Everglades would get $14.7 million, and Port of Tampa would get $10.4 million. 

Scott spoke in Orlando at an annual convention of the American Association of Port Authorities.