Florida Representative Kathy Castor joined Port Tampa Bay leadership last week to announce $10 million in federal funding to support the Tampa Harbor Navigation Improvement Project.
“Port Tampa Bay is Florida’s largest, most dynamic port. It is absolutely vital to the economic well-being of all of our neighbors across the region and across the state,” said Castor.
The funding included $3 million secured by Castor through Fiscal Year 2026 community project funding requests to advance Phase 1 planning, engineering and design. In addition, Castor led the Florida Congressional Delegation in securing $7 million in general-use funding through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, bringing the total investment to $10 million.
The project will deepen the shipping channel from 43 feet to 47 feet along a 42-mile stretch, allowing the port to safely and accommodate larger, more modern vessels.
Construction is anticipated to begin as early as 2027.