Over $3 Million in Federal Funding to Overhaul Hickman-Fulton County Riverport

Over $3 Million in Federal Funding to Overhaul Hickman-Fulton County Riverport

Senator McConnell advocated for this federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 Government Funding Bill and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced Nov. 1 the Hickman-Fulton County Riverport Authority (HFCRA) will receive $3,295,879 in federal funding to replace aging port infrastructure and upgrade critical docking capabilities.

This federal funding is made possible through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program. This program is funded by annual appropriations and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the bipartisan infrastructure law Senator McConnell led to Senate passage two years ago. The IIJA gives Kentucky billions of federal dollars over five years to improve the Commonwealth’s roads, bridges, railroads, riverports, airports, broadband, and more.

Senator McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, contacted DOT in support of HFCRA’s competitive federal application and advocated for DOT funding in both the FY2023 federal government funding bill and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

This federal funding will overhaul existing port infrastructure at the Hickman-Fulton County Riverport, Kentucky’s only public port along the Mississippi River, increasing its throughput capacity, enhancing operational safety, and enabling future commercial and industrial development in the region.

“Kentucky’s waterways support thousands of good-paying jobs and billions in economic development each year. As our Commonwealth’s only public port along the Mississippi River, HFCRA connects Kentucky’s many businesses to this vital waterway, which has been the backdrop of U.S. industrial growth for generations,” said Senator McConnell. “I was proud to leverage my role in the Senate to help HFCRA receive this federal grant, and I look forward to seeing this investment pay dividends for Kentucky’s communities along this great American waterway.”

“I’m thrilled to see the Department of Transportation award this federal funding to HFCRA. This investment will allow us to make critical repairs and upgrades to our infrastructure so we can meet growing demand in the future. We’re thankful for the support of our local leaders and particularly Senator McConnell, who helped advocate on our behalf in Washington,” said HFCRA Executive Director Greg Curlin.