Press release from Congressman Huffman’s office:

Today, Rep. Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) shared the news that The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration awarded $8,016,566.00 in funds to two projects off the North Coast of California through the department’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PDIP). The awards will provide funds for port maintenance and improvements in Eureka and Crescent City. Rep. Huffman helped secure these funds for his district through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the FY2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

“Communities up and down the coast of California rely on ports and harbors that fuel the economy, but crumbling infrastructure has strained operations and disrupted the global supply chain,” said Rep. Huffman. “Thanks to the investments secured by Democratic colleagues and I in the latest government funding bill, we are seeing major investments in our ports and harbors – all working to address repair and maintenance backlogs, reduce congestion and emissions near ports, and drive electrification and other low-carbon technologies. I’m glad to see our advocacy pay off and have this funding go to such important ports in my district so they can continue serving our region for years to come.” 

Project Details:  

• $650,000.00 for the city of Eureka’s Fishermen’s Terminal dock to replace approximately 40 failing or missing fender pilings on a quay used by commercial fishermen in Humboldt Bay. The Project includes removal of the existing pilings and the purchase and installation of replacement pilings, pile caps, and rub rails. 
• $7,366,566.00 for the city of Crescent City, CA for the construction of a new seawall, the repair and renovation of a seafood packing and truck loading area, the replacement of cargo handling equipment that is currently atop the existing seawall, and the installation of EV infrastructure to power the cold storage trailers used to move seafood products to market.

“Commercial fishermen and the City of Eureka owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Maritime Administration for approving the City’s Port Infrastructure Development Program grant submittal for the repairs at Eureka Fishermen’s Terminal dock.  The planning, building and funding of Fishermen’s Terminal was an eighteen-year cooperative effort between Humboldt Fishermen’s Marketing Association and the City of Eureka.  Like other shoreside infrastructure, including streets, sidewalks and utilities, Eureka Fishermen’s Terminal, continues to be a vital piece of waterfront infrastructure serving the West Coast fishing fleet and the economic interests of the Eureka community. This grant allocation will allow for the Terminal to continue to serve the commercial fisherman of the North Coast and the greater Eureka community,” said Miles Slattery, Eureka City Manager. 

“Commercial fishing ports in California are struggling to make ends meet. As a consequence, major infrastructure repair is often deferred indefinitely,” said Crescent City Harbor Commission President Rick Sheperd. “Fortunately, our federal partners at FEMA have recognized the dire need of the Crescent City Harbor and have funded a new sea wall to protect our harbor. The commercial fishermen of Crescent City would like to thank Congressmen Huffman for helping our harbor secure the 7.366 million dollar grant that will help the success of the commercial fishing industry in Crescent City, a fleet that is the largest shrimp producer in California, and which produces over 50% of the Dungeness crab caught in California.” 

The Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) is a discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Maritime Administration. Funds for the PIDP are awarded on a competitive basis to projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port. In FY2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) appropriated $450 million to the PIDP. An additional $234 million was made available to the program under FY2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act. Therefore, a total of $684,310,000 of funding was available to make awards under the FY 2022 PIDP grant program.