Stimulus Package Funds Dredging

"The member companies of the Dredging Contractors of America (DCA) are pleased by the inclusion of $440 million of critically needed dredging projects in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stimulus list," said Dan McDougal, President of DCA. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act "will provide a shot in the arm to the maritime and boating industries, as well as supply hundreds of family wage jobs for employees of the nations dredging and marine construction companies," he said. "Many of the stimulus projects are intended to restore poorly maintained projects to full project dimensions. As a result, new efficient water transportation alternatives will be available to shippers and key waterfront investments will be more likely to follow."

Adding the stimulus projects to the normal workload and the continued Gulf Recovery effort will present a challenge to the Corps and its partners in the dredging industry. "When we have faced similar challenges in the past, our working partnership with the Corps has proven invaluable," said Barry Holliday, Executive Director of DCA. "If the procuring districts coordinate their projects well, we are convinced that all of this work can be underway and completed over the recovery period targeted by Congress and the Administration."

In summary, and in combination with ongoing work and the expected workload for FY2010, the stimulus package will generate jobs, restore navigation projects to their authorized dimensions, enable ports and harbors to realize their full potential for moving cargo to supply the Nation with economical goods, and improve the economic viability of our Nation.