The Port of Monroe has received $16 million to establish Michigan’s first container terminal, aiming to enhance the state’s supply chain, support the automotive industry, and expand agricultural exports. Once completed, the port will be the most state-of-the art port on the Great Lakes and a major hub in Michigan’s international trade routes.
“The 40-foot shipping container is the most commonly used form of freight movement in the entire world, and now Michigan will be in that business, and it will ensure that goods can travel to and from our region as expeditiously as possible and as economically as possible,” Port Director Paul LaMarre III told reporters when the funding was announced.
The $16 million is a combination of $5 million from the state and an $11 million federal grant made possible by President Joe Biden’s Infrastructure Law. The funds will be used to dredge for deeper access channels, acquire state-of-the-art handling equipment and reinforce dock areas that were built in the 1930s to handle heavier loads.
The Port of Monroe is the state’s fastest growing transportation hub. Business at the Port of Monroe has almost quadrupled in the last decade, making it the state’s fastest growing port. With $16 million in upgrades, it aims to double this growth within the next five to ten years. Port Director LaMarre said that the port supports 2,500 jobs today – a number that could double over the next decade with these investments.
Traditionally, the Port of Monroe handled a diverse mix of cargoes but has not ventured into the container segment that dominates global shipping. The transition into a container port means that Monroe will now play a crucial role in international trade routes, directly connecting Michigan to global markets.
Shipping by boat on the Great Lakes saves money and time. Boats use less fuel than trucks, moving a ton of cargo 670 miles per gallon, lowering total overall fuel costs. Companies using the Port of Monroe can also ship goods faster to America’s heartland, saving about 14 days compared to coastal ports where supplies are unloaded and placed on trucks or trains. This faster shipping reduces costs and makes the supply chain more efficient.
No other port in the state is better situated for international trade. The port is Michigan’s only port on Lake Erie and its located next to I-75 and two major railroad lines – making it uniquely positioned to become a linchpin in Michigan’s supply chain.
The port’s operations are vital for industries such as mining and energy, with forthcoming expansions into agriculture, supporting thousands of jobs and generating significant revenue. At a recent visit, Governor Gretchen Whitmer highlighted the port’s pivotal role in Michigan’s economic and industrial expansion, particularly for exporting automobiles and developing green technologies.
The port will become the nation’s first to scan every containers for security, according to port director Paul LaMarre.
LaMarre also noted the port’s transformation from an underutilized area to a national model for port development, emphasizing its significant growth and strategic importance in the Great Lakes region. The container business upgrades will be finished in 2024.
Key Facts:
- The Port of Monroe has received $16 million in funding to establish the state’s first shipping container terminal, aimed at enhancing supply chains and supporting key industries like automotive and agriculture.
- This investment will be used for dredging, acquiring advanced handling equipment, and reinforcing docks to modernize the port and double its growth and create 2,500 more jobs in the next ten years.
- The port’s expansion into container shipping will make Monroe a hub for global shipping, which is dominated by the use of standardized containers that can efficiently be transferred between ships, trains and trucks.
