Port Everglades broke ground for a new 41-acre marine terminal for containerized cargo. The Phase VIIA and VIII terminal yard at the southernmost end of Port Everglades is expected to be completed by spring 2010. Among the honorees to turn the first shovels of dirt at the site were: Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Jr.; City of Hollywood, Florida, Mayor Peter Bober; Port Director Phillip C. Allen; Martha Harbin, executive director of the Florida Maritime Leadership Coalition; and, Darryl "Mike D." Payne, president of the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1526 and a director of the Florida Maritime Leadership Coalition. "We all know that the maritime industry at Port Everglades provides a great economic benefit to our region. Now that construction of this new terminal area in Southport has begun, and with the many new jobs it will support, we will see an expanded beneficial ripple effect on our local economy," said Commissioner Eggelletion. Approximately 227 construction jobs will be supported through the Southport Phase VIIA and VIII project. Once completed, preliminary estimates show that approximately 250 direct jobs and more than 14,000 total jobs will be supported by the new cargo terminal, resulting in more than $494 million in personal income. Business activity is projected to reach $1.4 billion annually, with more than $45 million generated in state and local taxes. 

Tran Construction, Inc., of Miami, Fla., won the bid for the Phases VIIA and VIII cargo terminals in the Southport area at Port Everglades in the amount of $12.3 million including contingencies. Florida state grants are funding almost half of this economic stimulus project. The scope of work includes site preparation, installation of water, sewer, and storm drainage systems, paving, electrical (high mast lighting system) and fencing. This project will increase cargo yards at Port Everglades by 15% from existing acreage. "We have built up our status by taking a proactive approach in our marketing efforts," said Port Director Allen. "The relationships that we build with our customers and their shipping clients provide a strong foundation for when the time is right to expand in the South Florida market. The challenge is to keep Port facilities operating at or near 100% capacity. "While current container movement is softening here like elsewhere in the country, the expansion positions Port Everglades to be ready for economic recovery and cargo growth associated with the Panama Canal expansion and long-term economic growth consistent with our Master Plan." The Southport Phase VIII project marks a great leap forward in advancing Port Everglades' vision for the future. As one of South Florida's leading economic powerhouses, Port Everglades is the gateway for international trade and cruise vacations. Already one of the three busiest cruise ports worldwide, Port Everglades is also Florida's leading container port. And, Port Everglades is South Florida's main seaport for receiving petroleum products including, gasoline, jet fuel and alternative fuels. The Port Everglades Department is a self-supporting Enterprise Fund of Broward County government with operating revenues of more than $117 million in Fiscal Year 2008 (October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008). It does not rely on local tax dollars for operations.