S.C. legislators to press for federal money to deepen harbor

We came across this article in the Charleston Regional Business Journal. It's great news for our Southeast. Let's just hope that the funding goes through... 

The federal government has given authorization for Charleston Harbor to be deepened to 52 feet, but the project awaits federal funds as the new administration settles into office.

“We’ve gotten to ‘yes,’ but we’re not done yet,” U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said.

Several lawmakers spoke of the importance of securing federal money for the project during a harbor deepening event Monday in Mount Pleasant. Port leaders, politicians and business leaders from across the state attended.

Lt. Col. Matt Luzzatto, commander of the Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District, said he anticipates dredging to begin on the harbor deepening project by the end of the year. (Photo/Liz Segrist)

The S.C. Legislature voted in 2012 to set aside $300 million for the state’s portion of the harbor deepening work. Graham said the federal government now needs to allocate its portion of the $509 million project.

Some legislators said they are confident the Trump administration will allocate the money, while others cautioned that the president’s isolationist views toward trade could hinder the deepening effort.

To read the article in it's entirety, click here.