State commits $3M more to Cates Landing project

With an additional $3 million commitment from the state of Tennessee, Jimmy Williamson of Dyersburg said the North-west Tennessee Port and Industrial Park took another huge step toward becoming a reality on Monday. Williamson, who serves as chairman of the Northwest Tennessee Regional Port Authority, said he received news from Gov. Phil Bredesen’s office that the funding will be included in the state’s upcoming budget, along with $4 million in state funds that had been approved earlier this year. “We now have full funding for the project and we can complete the port, which is good for Tennessee and great for northwest Tennessee,” he said. The port, on the Missis-sippi River at Cates Land-ing in Lake County, is a slack-water harbor, where a steady level of still water makes for easier cargo loading and unloading than in parts of the river with fast-moving currents. When completed, the port will bring up to 2,300 jobs to the region, according to analysis from the Business and Economic Research Center at Middle Tennessee State University. In October, U.S. Rep. John Tanner of Union City announced the port and industrial park would receive a $13 million federal TIGER II grant. Initially, $16 million in TIGER II grant funds was requested and the state had committed $4 million for a total of $20 million. After the $13 million was approved, the state was asked to increase its $4 million commitment by $3 million so the project would still receive the $20 million needed to complete it. “This is great news for continued work on the biggest economic development initiative in northwest Tennessee for generations,” the 8th District congressman said at the time of the earlier announcement. “With this site’s prime location, our area’s workforce and the potential to recruit new industry, our region is poised to be a real economic force in our country, and Tennessee’s working families will benefit.” In addition to Tanner, Williamson credited the efforts of several state lawmakers, including state Reps. Judy Barker of Union City and Craig Fitzhugh of Ripley and state Sen. Roy Herron of Dresden. “They’ve worked hard with us from the beginning,” Williamson said. “They contacted Gov. Bredesen and he agreed to get it done.” He said they are waiting to see how the grant money will flow and then bids will be let 30 days later. After its completion, the port will be 9,000 feet long and 13 feet deep at low water level. The work to complete the project will take about 18 months, according to Williamson.

“This will mean jobs for the region, both in the short-term and the long-term,” he said.
Dave Frankum of Union City serves on the Northwest Tennessee Regional Port Authority, which was formed in 2001 with representatives from Obion, Lake and Dyer counties.
“This project has been a long time coming and we are grateful it to see it will come to fruition,” he said. “It’s a blessing for Obion County and our friends in Lake County and Dyer County as well.
“We need jobs up here in this part of the state and we believe this project will provide a great opportunity for many of those looking for employment.”
Mrs. Barker, who represents the 77th House district in Lake and Obion counties and part of Dyer County, said she was thrilled with the recent announcements of funding for the port.
“This is just wonderful news for workers in northwest Tennessee,” said the state lawmaker after the TIGER II announcement. “I am glad that the port authority’s hard work is paying off and that our area will have thousands of new jobs because of this grant. I especially want to thank Congressman John Tanner for being a leader on this for so many years.”

Published in The Messenger 11.2.10

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