A West Tennessee delegation traveled to Nashville to thank legislators for their roles in supporting major developments at the Port of Cates Landing, north of Tiptonville. Representing the delegation and highlighting significant developments for the legislators were Port of Cates Landing Marketing Team Chairman Kerry Brannon and team member Randall Rhodes.Brannon reported that several major milestones have been reached. Among those are completion of the 9,000-foot slack-water harbor, proposed construction of an open cell terminal and selection of Associated Terminals as the port operator. Associated Terminals is one the largest terminal operators in the United States Gulf. Additionally, port officials are investigating the benefits of Clean Port USA designation (an Environmental Protection Agency National Clean Diesel Campaign program) and Foreign Trade Zone status. 

It was explained that new and existing businesses will be able to utilize the Port of Cates Landing to transport their raw and finished products by barge-to-rail, barge-to-truck and truck-to-rail transfer. This multi-modal concept will offer efficiencies and cost savings to port users.

Legislators also received a funding report during the update session. To date, over $13 million has been invested by local, state and federal government agencies to complete the dredging of the harbor and the acquisition of more than 1,000 acres designed to support the port. Phase II of the project will provide for construction of a docking facility with multi-modal rail and roadway connections.

Representative Judy Barker commended the Northwest Tennessee Regional Port Authority and area volunteers for advancing the project.

“Development of this unique asset has the potential for creation of hundreds of needed jobs, and injection of millions of dollars in capital investments and tax revenue into the regional economy,” said Barker.

Rhodes noted that three economic impact studies have been completed, all of which justify the development of this project. Two of these studies, one done by Younger & Associates and one by the University of Memphis, indicate the potential to create as many as 5,600 new jobs, with an annual impact of $206 million in new income and tax revenue in Lake, Dyer and Obion counties. (These three counties comprise the Northwest Tennessee Regional Port Authority). The third study, done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, indicated that existing industry alone would support the development of the multi-modal port through savings created by supplementing truck and/or rail transport with cost-effective barge transport.

Rep. Craig Fitzhugh was also on hand and commented that “the forward thinking of citizens in Lake, Dyer, and Obion Counties is becoming reality. The impact of the port will be felt far beyond these counties and will be a critical asset for economic growth as well as the state.”

Rhodes further explained that planned local road and rail improvements, along with the port’s proximity to the proposed route of I-69 (the corridor connecting Canada to Mexico), will help retain existing area businesses and attract new businesses. Increased business activities should provide economic and social benefits for years to come to all of West Tennessee and perhaps even to Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas.

For more information about the Port of Cates Landing, visit www.portofcateslanding.com, send inquiries to info@portofcateslanding.com, or contact Northwest Tennessee Regional Port Authority Board Chairman Jimmy Williamson at 731-287-4605.

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