$9.8 Million federal grant awarded for Port of Wilmington improvements

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina State Ports Authority will receive $9.8 million in federal funding for construction projects aimed at improving safety, capacity, and efficiency at the Port of Wilmington.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the funding Tuesday as part of its latest round of Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant Program awards. The grant is part of a larger $1.73 billion investment supporting 127 infrastructure projects nationwide.

The Port of Wilmington is a key economic driver for the Cape Fear region, supporting cargo operations, businesses, and jobs throughout southeastern North Carolina.

North Carolina was awarded $17.7 million total, including funding for roadway improvements at the Greater Asheville Regional Airport.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the investments will support infrastructure projects across the country for years to come.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said it received nearly 1,200 applications requesting more than $14.5 billion in BUILD grant funding.