Governor Rick Scott visited PortMiami today to highlight transportation investments in his 2017-2018 “Fighting for Florida’s Future” budget, which invests $10 billion for the Florida Department of Transportation’s Work Program, including $178 million for seaport infrastructure improvements. According to a recent report from the Florida Ports Council, Florida’s 15 seaports are responsible for $117.6 billion in economic activity, supporting nearly 900,000 jobs, $40 billion in personal income and $4.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.
Port Miami Director Juan Kuryla said, “Thanks to the support of Governor Scott, PortMiami now offers the deepest channel in the Southeast U.S. and the largest super-post-Panamax cranes in the state. PortMiami is big ship ready and we are honored that the world’s largest container alliances call here, which even further solidifies our position as the World Class Global Gateway. Governor Scott truly understands the importance of investing in Florida’s ports and making Florida a global trade leader, and we are proud to fully support his budget recommendations.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said, “Governor Scott and I share a commitment to creating opportunities for generations of Miamians and Floridians, and we have both prioritized job creation and economic growth in our respective budgets and plans for this year. As our County’s second-largest economic engine and one of the State’s largest, PortMiami supports more than 207,000 jobs in our community and generates more than $27 billion in economic impact each year. I thank the Governor for continuing to invest in PortMiami’s growth for this generation and future generations, and look forward to working together to boost our Port’s regional and national impact in terms of jobs, economic development and tourism.”
Florida Ports Council President and CEO Doug Wheeler said, “Governor Scott continues to make Florida’s seaports a priority by investing in the necessary improvements to keep up with current needs and prepare for future growth in cargo and cruise passengers.”
