Democratic lawmakers tout Philly, Pa. unity with $300M Port investment

More than a dozen Pennsylvania officials gathered in South Philadelphia Wednesday morning to extol the previously announced investment of more than $300 million into the Port of Philadelphia's infrastructure, describing the initiative as a way to invest in not only the city's economy, but that of the entire state.

"This is the only port that is in Pennsylvania," said Gov. Tom Wolf during a press conference at the Sheet Metal Workers offices on South Columbus Boulevard.

Wolf, like Mayor Jim Kenney, several U.S. Congressman, and other Pennsylvania politicians, spoke about how Philadelphia's geographic location gave it the ability to serve as a "keystone" to the rest of the state and the East Coast.

"This is the only port that can claim to be the gateway to that rich market. This is the only port that has the capacity and potential to do great things for that market and Pennsylvania," Wolf said.

According to the Governor's Office, roughly $200 million of the Capital Investment Program will go towards the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal. The money will be used to add four new electric post-Panamax container cranes, relocate warehouses to support future container growth and the construction of additional containers, and deepen the terminal’s marginal berths so it works better with the 45-foot depth Delaware River main channel.

The $300 million investment will begin in 2017 and last at least three years. Officials have said the project will create thousands of jobs and set the city up for more financial growth in the long run.

In a statement last month, officials said the Port expects a "total direct job increase of 70 percent is projected from the current level of 3,124 to a projected 5,378 direct jobs. Total employment at the Port will also increase, from 10,341 to 17,020, and state and local tax revenues generated will increase from the current $69.6 million to $108.4 million annually."

To those who criticize the state for spending too much time focusing on the city, over the rest of the Commonwealth, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey reiterated the same sentiments as the governor.

"This is about our commonwealth. This isn't about one city or one region," he said. "We are one state and this is the gateway to economic growth."

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal