BALTIMORE, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Vice President Joe Biden said a $10 million federal grant for expansion of Baltimore's port will help it keep pace in a dynamic global shipping economy.
"This grant is going to help take this historic port to a new level," Biden said Monday while he was briefed on what was happening at the port and watched cranes unload cargo containers.
Biden said the grant also will help create "jobs you can raise a family on, middle class jobs," The Baltimore Sun reported.
The $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, matched by $19 million in state funding, will used to increase the port's cargo handling capacity, in part, by paying for dredging to expand accessibility for large ships, and by providing rail access to one of its terminals.
With its 50-foot channel and berth, the Port of Baltimore is poised to accept large ships set to begin moving through the Panama Canal, and other ships from the Suez Canal.
The Sun said the port project is one of 52 chosen from more than 10 times as many proposals submitted for TIGER funding. The state twice applied for TIGER funding twice unsuccessfully.
