JACKSONVILLE, FL - Florida Governor Rick Scott along with other state, local and port leaders officially kicked-off JAXPORT’s Mile Point harbor improvement project, which will remove an existing navigational restriction in the St. Johns River. This project will ensure larger ships can travel the channel more efficiently, saving shippers and businesses time and money. The state has advanced $43.5 million for design and construction of the Mile Point harbor improvement project. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the construction scheduled for completion in late 2016. Governor Scott said, “Since taking office, my administration has invested more than $850 million in seaport infrastructure improvements in Florida, which has helped make our state a global trade leader and has created thousands of jobs. In February, I was excited to announce that Volkswagen Group of America chose JAXPORT as the location of its import facility and Southeastern distribution center, and in April, I announced Nestle USA was shifting a majority of their U.S. to Puerto Rico shipments from the Port of New York and New Jersey to JAXPORT. We look forward to welcoming more shippers and businesses to JAXPORT because of this important investment.”