The $4.5 million Keystone ILC Terminal project will receive a $1.4 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation, Gov. Rick Scott announced Monday.
The award is one of the first four Intermodal Logistics Center Infrastructure Support Program grants, a program that provides an annual $5 million allocation with a 50 percent matching fund requirement from applicants.
Keystone ILC requested funding to construct 2,100 of new rail, an on-site intermodal bulk transloading facility to transfer bulk and break-bulk commodities between ship, rail and
truck and will transloading containers for express shipment though the Jacksonville Port Authority.
"Our new rail and intermodal cargo transfer and intermodal cargo transfer facility will provide Jacksonville access to new world markets and new job opportunities for Floridians," Keystone Properties owner Tom Scholl said in a news release.
Keystone was one of the four selected among eight applicants for fiscal 2012-13, with the other three being the Port of Panama City Intermodal Distribution Center, the South Florida Logistics Center and the Port Manatee Commerce Center.
The Keystone project will create and support an estimated 99 new direct and indirect jobs. Combined, the four support and create 1,213 direct and indirect jobs.
"By enhancing our trade and logistics infrastructure we will create job opportunities and strengthen Florida's economy," department Secretary Ananth Prasad said in a news release.
The 2014 funding cycle for the next $5 million annual allocation is open.