{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press/donnelly-ports-of-indiana-announce-finalization-of-major-federal-grant-for-burns-harbor-capacity-upgrades", "Donnelly, Ports of Indiana Announce Finalization of Major Federal Grant for Burns Harbor Capacity Upgrades", "2017-10-31", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "IN", "Joe Donnelly", "D000607", "www.donnelly.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Donnelly, Ports of Indiana Announce Finalization of Major Federal Grant for Burns Harbor Capacity Upgrades\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tSenator supported the Ports\u2019 grant application; grant will allow Burns Harbor to improve cargo capacity and efficiency\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, October 31, 2017\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly and Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper today announced the finalization of the $9.85 million federal grant from for the Burns Harbor facility. The Department of Transportation grant will allow the port to increase its cargo operations capacity. Upgrades will include new truck facilities, improvements in rail connections, and updates to the port\u2019s dockside infrastructure. Donnelly supported the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor\u2019s application. To read Donnelly\u2019s letter of support to the Department of Transportation from December 2016, click here.\r\nSenator Donnelly, who wrote a letter of support for the Ports of Indiana application, said, \u201cI was proud to support the Ports of Indiana application, because this major federal grant will allow Burns Harbor to move forward with an expanded, increasingly-efficient operation. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing these upgrades in action because we know it will bring more economic opportunities to the region and our state.\u201d\r\nPorts of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper said, \u201cWith these investments, companies using water to move cargo will have new options for their inbound raw materials, outbound finished products and transferring shipments between ships and barges, rail cars and trucks. Strategic investments in port infrastructure produce a foundation for long-term growth, bring a positive economic impact to the area and support trade throughout the state.\u201d\r\nThe port\u2019s grant would provide partial funding for $19.7 million in infrastructure enhancements, including the construction of a new 2.3-acre cargo terminal with multimodal connections for handling cargo transfers between ships, barges, rail cars and trucks. In addition, 4.4 miles will be added to the port\u2019s existing 14-mile rail network. Two new rail yards will create rail storage for 165 rail cars, accommodate a 90-car unit train and provide rail car switching within the port, which will improve operating efficiencies for port companies. Improvements to the west dock, including extending a retaining wall and paving a dock apron, will result in an additional 1,200 feet of usable dock space. The project scope also includes a new six-acre truck marshalling yard that will relieve congestion along port roads.\r\nFor information on how Senator Donnelly\u2019s office can assist cities, municipalities, and groups applying for federal grants, please visit\u00a0https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/help/grants.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.donnelly.senate.gov/newsroom/press/donnelly-ports-of-indiana-announce-finalization-of-major-federal-grant-for-burns-harbor-capacity-upgrades"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2490269728004932, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}