Importance of Lake Worth Inlet Dredging Project Highlighted

Jameel McCline, a Democratic candidate to represent Florida’s 20th Congressional District, has announced his support for the Lake Worth Inlet dredging project.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has given the proposed expansion of the Port of Palm Beach’s entrance channel its final approval stating that the project is environmentally sound and economically beneficial,” said McCline.

McCline continued, “The State of Florida has a unique opportunity to outpace the rest of the country with exports as we are surrounded by water and have a multitude of ports at our disposal. Improving the Riviera Beach, Port of Palm Beach channel depths and widths allowing larger vessels to enter and exit will only improve our ability as a state to leverage exportation and transportation of goods from our shores to around the world.”

“The last time this channel was dredged it was 50 years ago and maintenance is desperately needed to allow our District and our State to remain globally competitive. This is the only port with capability to export sugar and molasses from the Everglades, which is a significant contributor to the economic viability of the communities around Lake Okeechobee.”

The Port of Palm Beach is the 4th busiest container Port in Florida and one of the top 20 busiest in the U.S. — one of only 16 export ports in the United States. More than 1,800 vessels call on the Port of Palm Beach annually, on average 6 per day.

“This is an extremely busy hub of commerce that greatly impacts our state’s economy. Leveraging this port for maximum exportation of our Florida — ‘Made in USA’ products is key to our state’s economic strength and job growth now and in the future. I support this project and the Army Corps of Engineers recommendation to move forward on the Lake Worth Inlet Dredging,” said McCline.

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Press Release, August 21, 2014