Staff Writer
Jacksonville Port Authority COO Chris Kauffmann had both good and bad news Wednesday for two organizations geared toward the transportation, architecture, engineering and construction industries.
During a joint luncheon of the Northeast Florida Women Transportation Seminar and Society of Marketing Professional Services North Florida, Kauffmann announced the Port — and Florida as a whole — didn’t receive any of the $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Discretionary Grants that would have been used for surface transportation infrastructure projects. More than $56 billion worth of projects were submitted across the country, said Kauffmann, for the funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. If awarded, the money could have been used to repair existing Port infrastructure, which is one of the many costly challenges the Port is facing.
“Only a very small fraction was awarded,” said Kauffmann.
While disappointed with the outcome, Kauffmann followed it up with good news for many of the attendees who are looking for opportunities to do business with the Port. By the end of the week, he hopes, several architectural and engineering Requests For Proposals will be issued for a structural/mechanical vertical project, a civil marine/environmental horizontal project and an information technology project.
Both items were just part of Kauffmann’s presentation to the professional groups regarding the current state of the Port and upcoming opportunities, prefaced by a little Port history and its economic impact on the area. He also discussed where the Port wants to head in a Post-Panamax shipping world, but in order to do so it needs to overcome challenges associated with dredging and aging infrastructure. Both require additional capital, which Kauffmann said Port officials are actively pursuing at both the federal and State level. In addition, Kauffmann praised the work of State Rep. Lake Ray in working on legislation that would assist the Port business.
“The main reason we exist is to be an economic engine,” said Kauffmann during his introduction and ongoing Port vision.
The opportunity for Kauffmann to come share the Port story – especially news of upcoming projects ready for RFPs – was a welcome one.
“We are a public port,” said Kauffmann, “and any time we can get out with groups and share news about their port with them, we do.”
For both SMPS North Florida and Northeast Florida WTS members, the update served as both an educational and potential business opportunity.
“It was a great opportunity for our members to get out and meet Port officials they might not have met before,” said SMPS North Florida President Emily Carrier of TLC Engineering for Architecture. “Especially when there is potential work for some of the members.”
While disappointed with the announcement the Port had lost out on TIGER Grant funds that could have been used for resurfacing projects, Northeast Florida WTS member Joanne Diz of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority thought the presentation was beneficial for the industry.
“I thought it was a fabulous presentation,” said Diz. “We (JTA) work with them on projects, but it was great to get an update on what’s going on.”
356-2466