McConnell Secures Nearly $5 Million to Expand Eddyville Riverport

Office of Mitch McConnell, US Senator

LOUISVILLE, KY - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today the Department of Transportation (DOT) will provide $4,912,631 to the Eddyville Riverport and Industrial Development Authority through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).

The Eddyville Riverport plans to use these funds to construct an inlet adjacent to its existing port on the Cumberland River to expand the port's ability to process dry bulk commodities and increase the efficiency of the port's operations. This project will give the Eddyville Riverport greater capacity to service local industries, encouraging economic development in the area.

Senator McConnell supported PIDP, which awards competitive grants to projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of American ports, by securing $2.25 billion for the program over the next five years in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and an additional $234,310,000 for the program in the Fiscal Year 2022 government funding bill. Senator McConnell helped lead the IIJA to Senate passage last year and the President signed the bill into law last November.

The Senator also wrote to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in support of the Eddyville Riverport and Industrial Development Authority's grant application.

"Kentucky is experiencing a manufacturing renaissance thanks to our pro-business policies, skilled workforce, and convenient access to America's heartland. As our industrial base continues to expand, it's critical we improve our transportation infrastructure so we're up to the task of bringing more goods in and out of the Commonwealth. I supported last year's bipartisan infrastructure bill and government funding bill to do just that and was proud to work with Eddyville Riverport and Western Kentucky's local leaders to help them benefit from these bills. When this riverport expansion project is complete, small businesses and manufacturers will have just one more reason to call the Commonwealth home," said Senator McConnell.

"We are excited to receive a Port Infrastructure Development Program grant to build a new inlet at the Eddyville Riverport and grow inland port cargo operations. This expansion allows the Riverport to handle additional freight cargo and increases the barge operation capacity in the port. We appreciate Senator McConnell's support for our grant application and his work to fund federal programs that improve Kentucky's port infrastructure. The Eddyville Riverport and Lake Barkley Partnership are committed to long-term improvement of our economic development sites to ensure businesses across the region have continued access to multiple modes of transportation infrastructure," said Amanda Davenport, Lake Barkley Partnership Executive Director.

"Receiving this grant gives the Eddyville Riverport a tremendous opportunity to be able to expand business opportunities for our rural Kentucky community. This expansion will create additional shoreline that is absolutely necessary to expanding Eddyville's economic development on Lake Barkley and the Cumberland River. Senator McConnell's leadership was critical to securing this grant and will help foster business growth in our region for years to come," said Glen Kinder IV, Eddyville Riverport Treasurer.

An almost 5 million dollar grant will give the Eddyville Riverport greater capacity to service local industries, encouraging economic development in the area by expanding the port's ability to process dry bulk commodities and increasing the efficiency of the port's operations. (Photo: Eddyville Riverport)