The Port of Port St. Joe releases potential future plans for new Port

Having a new deep water Port in the heart of Port St. Joe has been a topic talked about for a long time. Up until now, very little has been released on what that new Port site would look like. More information can now be found by visiting www.portofportstjoe.com.

“With numerous assets, the Port of Port St. Joe is poised for development and expansion.
It is one of 15 state-designated ports within the state of Florida and one of only three ports along
North Florida’s Gulf Coast. With the expansion of the Panama Canal and the inception of PostPanamax shipping, some non-competitive freight handling operations currently at larger ports
are expected to shift to smaller ports, especially to those that have shorter ship-to-market routes.
With a direct route north from the Panama Canal, the Port of Port St. Joe is a perfect candidate.

STRATEGIC LOCATION

-State-designated deepwater port in the sheltered waters of St. Joseph Bay.
-Federally approved navigational channel depths between 35 feet and 37 feet; federally approved turning basin and harbor channel depths between 32 feet and 35 feet.
-1,900 linear feet of existing deepwater bulkhead with potential expansion 5,500 linear feet.
-Offers direct access to the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
-Offers convenient rail and interstate access.
-One of only three state-designated ports along North Florida’s Gulf Coast.

UNIQUE ASSETS:

-The Port is adjacent to more than 5,000 acres of undeveloped land. This vast acreage offers a blank canvas for maritime-related and spin-off businesses not available at land-constrained ports elsewhere.
-The Port’s canal site offers niche maritime opportunities for regional uses.
-As many Florida ports focus on containerized cargoes, the Port of Port St. Joe can service bulk cargoes and other commodities.
-With the expansion of the Panama Canal and inception of Post-Panamax shipping, some non-competitive freight handling operations at larger seaports are expected to shift to smaller ports, especially those locations with shorter ship-to-market routes.
-Opportunities exist to attract and stimulate new green industries.
-The Port and surrounding area are a state-designated Enterprise Zone. The 180 acres surrounding the bayfront bulkhead is designated as a Brownfield.
-Natural gas 50,000 MMGtu/d

CONVENIENT ACCESS:

WATER
-The Port offers barge access to inland rivers and waterways system (U.S.) Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, channel 12’x125’).
-The Gulf County Canal connects the Gulf of Mexico with the U.S. Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, which traverses the
Gulf Coast of the United States. This navigable inland waterway runs approximately 1,050 miles from Carrabelle, Fla., to Brownsville, Texas, and provides access via the inland river system to locations as diverse as Chicago, Pittsburgh, Memphis, Tulsa and other cities.
RAIL
-AN Railway, a subsidiary of Genesee Wyoming, provides rail service to the Port and connects with the CSX Transportation Class I mainline. INTERSTATE AND AIR
-Direct access to I-10 via SR-71.
-Only 21 miles to Apalachicola Regional Airport via U.S. Highway 98.
-57 miles to the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City Beach.

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES:
In February 2012 The St. Joe Company and the Port St. Joe Port Authority executed a Memorandum of Understanding
to partner and collaborate on port-related economic development initiatives. St. Joe, in conjunction with the Port St.
Joe Port Authority, is open to a full range of public-private partnerships such as joint ventures, terminal operating
leases and individual carrier or cargo-handling investments as well as the use of revenue bonds, equity funds, and
other investment opportunities. Projects on the Port could be accelerated with private sector investments to match
potential public sector grants. Some properties in the more than 5,000 acres of undeveloped lands in the Port environs are available for immediate port development.”

See the full concept by visiting http://www.portofportstjoe.com/PSJ-PortBrochure-0316.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3UwaxohCkj0llIV4dRA2Yf30xWYiHuZKzcaYbhfKnExVAkuZFK0KRNjJ0

February 15th Market Update | Florida’s Forgotten Coast

We hope everyone had a wonderfully loving Valentine’s Day! See the link below to view all of the market updates for February 15th, 2019. Looking for something specific on Florida’s Forgotten Coast? Call or email us today!

https://navicamls.net/displays/?n=454&i=103422&k=O0791GCSBKEN

Don’t forget to go to our Search pages to find everything currently available on the market on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Search 1000s of properties from Mexico Beach, St. Joe Beach, Port St. Joe, Cape San Blas, Indian Pass, St. George Island, Apalachicola and more!

-The Peevys

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Port St. Joe to Receive Operational Port?

port st joe light house

It has been the in the talks for years on Gulf County and Port St. Joe to begin operations to open up a full service port in the little historic town along the coast.  A working agreement has been finalized and presented to county commissioners.  Could we finally see this become a reality?  Here’s the full article below, written by Tim Croft of the Port St. Joe Star newspaper (full link to article below):

The Board of County Commissioners and Port St. Joe Port Authority finalized a working agreement last week and on Tuesday state, regional and economic officials formally hailed the establishment of a Gulf to Gadsden Freight Logistics Zone (FLZ).

Both documents focus, entirely or in significant measure, the development of an operational Port of Port St. Joe as a key driver for an economic renaissance in the region.

The agreement between county and Port Authority was critical as local officials contemplate the projects, and the funding, that will be necessary to unlock the port’s potential.

The agreement, spanning two years but likely to be extended to a third year, largely scans a similar agreement between the county and the St. Joe Company and an earlier collaboration between the Port Authority and St. Joe.

Acknowledging the assets within the port planning area and the desire to grow and diversify the economy while attracting high paying jobs.

“I think it’s a great start to get things moving to get jobs into the county,” said Guerry Magidson, the chairman of the Port Authority board.

Magidson said he and Warren Yeager, the executive director of the county’s Economic Development Coalition, would be sitting down to discuss joint applications for Triumph Gulf Coast funds earmarked to the county for economic development projects.

One of the primary motivations of the county/port agreement is the adage concerning strength in numbers.

The Port Authority expects to have final design plans for spoil infrastructure, as well as final projections on dredging and spoil disposal costs at its September meeting.

The Gulf to Gadsden Freight Logistics Zone evolved from a mapping of assets along the Apalachicola Northern (Genesee Wyoming) rail line that links the Port of Port St. Joe to point north to Gadsden County.

The goal, to create an intermodal system moving goods within the four-county region which also includes Liberty and Franklin counties.

 

The plan highlights significant infrastructure, including the Port of Port St. Joe, the Apalachicola Regional Airport, the I-10 interchange in Gadsden County and rail connections and interstate access in Liberty County.

The plan notes the historical significance of the port as a “freight generator” and recent progress in opening the port, including a Port Authority tenant and the existing Eastern Shipbuilding lease on the paper mill site bulkhead owned by the St. Joe Company.

The study notes the strategic rail lines, roadways and, in the case of Gulf to Gadsden, the Intracoastal Waterway and the access to farflung markets that waterway provides.

Burrowing deeper, the plan also highlights potential sites for an Intermodal Logistics Centers (ILC), or hubs for regional activity.

One is in Gulf County, along State 71 north off Chemical Drive, also known as the county’s “lay-down yard.”

That site offers access to rail and roadways, State 71 connecting to I-10 and, ultimately, the Gulf Coast Parkway once constructed.

“When we see leaders at the city, county and state levels join forces with the private sector, the greatness that can be accomplished becomes evident,” said State Rep. Halsey Beshears (R-Monticello). “What this partnership and naming of this new zone mans to this area is immeasurably and I look forward to seeing the positive impacts for years to come.”

The creation of the freight zone is crucial in accessing state funding for projects that would boost the zone or hub and in turn economic development.

The plan also puts a spotlight on the region’s proximity to the expanded Panama Canal, closer than any other Florida seaport, as well as the existing rail and water avenues from the region to broader markets.

Along similar lines, the freight zone would also be adjacent to the existing Foreign Trade Zone in Panama City as well as a proposed Foreign Trade Zone in Tallahassee.

“The four counties in the FLZ have tremendous potential for economic development and job growth,” said Jorge Gonzalez, CEO of The St. Joe Company. “With the proper infrastructure in place, the Port of Port St. Joe can leverage the benefit of proximity to rail, air and interstate transportation assets.

“We are committed to working with the counties to improve transportation connectivity and propelling growth throughout the FLZ.”

 

http://www.starfl.com/news/20170817/county-port-authority-finalize-agreement

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