Georgia Senate passes measure to help Savannah Port
The Georgia Senate agreed Tuesday to tidy up legal language related to the Georgia Ports Authority’s ability to accept federal money — an effort related to the state’s deepening of the Savannah Port.
The Army Corp of Engineers requested the changes as work is readied on Georgia’s biggest economic development effort in years. Earlier this month, the Obama administration pledged $42 million over two years to the project.
The money is a starting point for the $440 million the state expects as the federal government’s share of the $706 million project. Deepening the Savannah River from 42 feet to 47 feet will make way for larger container ships coming through a soon-to-be-expanded Panama Canal, stimulating the economy of the state and the region from what is already the fourth-busiest container port in the country.
Senate Bill 5 passed unanimously. It now goes to the House for consideration.
