Reso 2010-1646 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MIAMI BUSINESS COMMUNITY LETTER OF SUPPORT TO FUND THE PORT OF MIAMI DEEP DREDGE PROJECT President Obama: On behalf of the undersigned, broad-based business coalition, we write this letter to voice our strong support for the Port of Miami Deep Dredge Project and to urge your support of that Project as a high priority for job creation and economic growth: $75 million in federal funds is immediately needed for the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Port of Miami to 50 feet. Florida ports will not be able to maintain or enhance their roles as creators of jobs and economic vitality unless Florida ports are able to service the dramatic changes in international trade patterns when the Panama Canal Expansion project is completed in August, 2014. The new generation of large container vessels will be a game changer for freight and containerized trade, increasing the volume of Asian trade moving through East Coast US ports. Trade will move to the ports which can accommodate the largest vessels, including international ports such as Freeport, The Bahamas, as no port south of Norfolk can currently accommodate those vessels. Miami is positioned to fulfill that need to accommodate larger ships in 2014 if funding is obtained now. Miami is the port closest to the Panama Canal and will be able to commence the dredging needed to accommodate the largest Post-Panamax vessels as early as 2011. The Port of Miami is one of only three ports on the East Coast that is currently authorized and ready to dredge to 50 feet, and we must be ready to accommodate the larger class vessels that will begin transversing the expanded canal in 2014. The dredging cost will generate a significant return on investment, and avoid the loss of our role as the key international gateway for containerized cargo. Currently, the Port of Miami is the 11 th largest container port in the nation, supporting 176,000 jobs and $17 billion annually. Investment by the federal government will allow the Port to grow those jobs by an estimated 33,000 and double exports within five years. Thus, this important, job creating project is ready for action now, and will assist the Administration's efforts to increase double exports, as well as provide for permanent, well paying jobs in a state facing a 12% unemployment rate. We urge your support for this project of national significance, and look forward to working with you to ensure that the State remains a leading player in the global economy. Sincerely, YOUR ORGANIZATION HERE