Four Kentucky riverports get upgrade grants

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear: “Our Kentucky riverports play a unique role in our commerce and our transportation system.”

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has announced that four Kentucky riverports have been awarded $500,000 in grants for needed infrastructure improvements and equipment upgrades.

“Our Kentucky riverports play a unique role in our commerce and our transportation system. We’re pleased to be able to provide funding for these worthy projects,” Gov. Beshear said.

The funding, which must be locally matched, was awarded for eight separate projects at four riverports. Kentucky Transportation Sec. Jim Gray approved the awards at the recommendation of the Kentucky Water Transportation Advisory Board, which reviewed the applications.

“The grants will help these riverports meet a range of needs for both operations and capacity,” Gray said.

The grants are going to:

Eddyville Riverport and Industrial Development Authority:

• $105,058 toward purchase of a new winch system to position barges for loading/unloading.
• $110,229 to turn three acres of property into a dry bulk storage yard.

Hickman-Fulton County Riverport Authority:

• $50,000 toward an array of stabilization and safety repairs to three aging mooring cells.
• $31,800 for dredging around port docks.

Owensboro Riverport Authority:

• $57,490 toward replacement of a crane bucket.
• $36,790 toward purchase of a wheel loader to replace a skid steer.
• $35,912 toward a new and larger grapple for loading steel scrap barges.

Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority:

• $72,721 toward construction of a steel commodity hopper and gate system.