Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority awarded $40 million grant for Riverport West Project

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

PADUCAH, Ky. (KBSI) — The Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Authority has received a $40 million federal grant for the Riverport West Project, bringing total federal and state funding to $78 million.

Riverport Authority Executive Director James Garrett announced the funding during a project update.

The $40 million grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration Port Infrastructure Development Program.

The project also received a $24 million Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant announced over the summer. Combined with state funding, the grants bring total funding in line with the project’s estimated $78 million cost.

The Riverport West Project includes construction of a dock facility with direct rail access.

The proposed site is adjacent to the Triple Rail Site and less than two miles from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Paducah site.

Next steps include finalizing grant agreements, developing a wetland mitigation plan and obtaining construction permits.

Construction is expected to begin in approximately one year and take about 18 months to complete.

Officials hope to have the facility operational by 2029.