Missouri Port Gets $25 Million State Grant For Container Facility

The Jefferson County (Mo.) Port Authority (JCPA) announced May 19 that it has secured a $25 million grant from the state of Missouri to develop a container facility at the port, located on the Upper Mississippi River just south of St. Louis.

The appropriated funds will be used to purchase the equipment necessary for American Patriot Holdings to begin its container-on-vessel service and further port development efforts. 

A team including leadership from Jefferson County, its port development partners and the JCPA visited with elected officials at the state capitol on March 1. The group conducted 17 individual meetings with legislators, including members of the Missouri House and Senate leadership, members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and other committee chairs critical to the project. 

“We have put together an incredible team,” said JCPA Board President Derrick Good. “Our executive director, Jim McNichols, did an amazing job of lining up meetings with the right people in Jefferson City. It was a great feeling leaving there knowing that we had earned overwhelming support for our project.” 

Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon added: “We are very pleased that the Missouri House and Senate have provided $25 million of state funding for Jefferson County Ports in the budget, and we await the budget review by Gov. Parson. This was a true team effort, and I want to thank the House delegation for getting the funds initially into the budget and the Senate for ensuring that the funds remained in the budget.” 

Sal Litrico, CEO of American Patriot Container Transport, said, “APCT and the HAWTEX Development Corporation have been working with the Jefferson County Port Authority for the last five years on the development of our new container-on-vessel service. I would like to extend our thanks and congratulations to both Jefferson County, led by County Executive Dennis Gannon, and the leadership of the Jefferson County Port Authority.”