Governor Rick Scott was at JAXPORT on Monday promising funding for the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility Project at the Dames Point Terminal.
The facility will allow companies to transfer cargo quickly from ships to trains, saving transportation costs and reducing the number of trucks on the road.
According to JAXPORT the $30 million project is expected to create 340 construction jobs and 800 direct and indirect jobs over the next 40 years.
Scott says the transfer facility will help to maintain JAXPORT's status as one of the major port destinations on the East Coast.
"This intermodal project is going to create a lot of jobs right here in the community," he said. "We got money from federal government, we've got money from the state, but on top of that ,the Mayor has been a big leader and this task force I think is going to create a lot of opportunities to expand the port here."
Mayor Alvin Brown announced the creation of a task force that will focus on building community support for JAXPORT's strategic plans including deepening the channel to allow larger ships to use the port.
The Task Force will be co-chaired by Patriot Transportation Holding Chairman John Baker and Regency Centers CEO Hap Stein.
Mayor Brown says the Task Force will set its own agenda and timeline for action.
