February 6 - Port Manatee and its stakeholders look to benefit from full federal funding of a feasibility study related to the deepening of its channel and harbour area in President Obama's fiscal 2016 budget.
Manatee Harbour, near the Gulf of Mexico entrance to Tampa Bay, is one of only ten waterways in the continental USA identified for such U.S. Army Corps of Engineers funding in the fiscal 2016 civil works budget announced by Obama.
The harbour, which currently has a depth of 40 ft (12.2 m), is targeted to receive USD700,000 in feasibility study funding in the federal budget for the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2015. The budget also includes USD300,000 for maintenance and USD100,000 for operation of Manatee Harbour.
Carlos Buqueras, executive director of Port Manatee, expressed his appreciation at the funding, which will allow the port to accommodate the majority of vessels transiting the newly expanded Panama Canal.
