Paducah River Port details $6.6 million in recent grant investments, lays out $50 million Riverport West estimate

Jimmy Garrett, executive director of the Paducah-McCracken County River Port, told the McCracken County Fiscal Court on July 28 that the port handled roughly 427,000 tons of material this year and completed a string of grant-funded projects that total about $6.6 million since 2021.

The update, delivered during the court's regular meeting, outlined current cargo activity, operating finances, recent grant awards and projects, improvements to on-site equipment and buildings, and an estimated $50 million construction cost to complete the proposed Riverport West expansion.

Why it matters: the port is a century-scale logistics asset for Paducah and McCracken County; the combination of grant funding, private customers and a renewed Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) may influence local industrial activity, barge traffic and storage capacity.

Garrett said the port produced about 427,000 tons of material this year, shipped roughly 362,000 tons and carried a net inventory of about 1,000 tons; he identified Pine Bluff Rock, TAM International and Southern FS among the top customers. "I'm Jimmy Garrett. I'm the executive director, Paducah McCracken County, River Port," Garrett said when introducing himself to the court.

On specialized work, Garrett said the port performed about 1,677 separate tasks for TAM International this year, producing roughly $411,000 in revenue tied to handling and preparing cylinders and other specialized cargo. He also described a customer who ships "SuperSacs" (bulk sacks) through the port and the port's handling volumes for those products.

Financially, Garrett presented a 2026 pro forma showing revenues near $2.2 million and operating cash flow a little above $400,000 after recurring annual payments and matching funds for grants. He told the court the port included grant-match funding in its 2026 budget so it would not need to request additional city or county funds to meet match requirements.

Grant-funded projects cited by Garrett include federal and state programs: a DRA (Delta Regional Authority) award used to renew a warehouse, a PIDP project totaling about $4.1 million that produced seven discrete works (including new radial stackers and concrete pads), and a state KPRCM award totaling $1.5 million over two years (the port is using $1.2 million of that to repair nine harbor cells and $250,000 to rebuild a fertilizer conveyor). Garrett said the PIDP work finished slightly over estimate (about 7% over budget) and included new radial stackers he described as long-life assets.

Garrett also reviewed equipment additions funded by grants: three radial stackers (described as $1.7 million for the three), new generators trailer-mounted for emergency use, a mobile crane (planned for delivery after bidding), refurbished domes and a new concrete pad for storage. He said roughly $5.6 million of the $6.6 million investment came from grants, with the port and local partners contributing the remainder.

On Riverport West, Garrett said about $3.5 million was allocated previously; $1.2 million has been spent on environmental assessments and engineering design. He said the team expects environmental work to be complete in September and that final design will follow, but full construction is estimated at about $50 million and would require new funding.

Garrett outlined renewed interest in the port's Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ), which the port established in 2015 but had not previously utilized. He said the FTZ has drawn attention since tariff changes and that PRCO (a customer bringing material from China) is the first to use the FTZ in practice. Garrett reported that as of July 1 the port had 5,555 SuperSacs stored under FTZ status in two warehouses and that Customs and Border Protection will conduct an annual review later in the week.

Garrett described ongoing outreach on FTZ subzone arrangements with nearby ports and counties, including meetings with Eddyville Port and multi-county discussions scheduled August 8 with Crittenden County and Caldwell County; he said other counties and operators have expressed interest in associating as subzone operators.

Court members responded with praise and questions about operations, workforce and the port's economic role. Commissioner Bartleman and Judge Clymer both thanked Garrett and described the port as an important but often unseen economic engine for the county.

The presentation included photos and a project list; Garrett asked the court to keep grant and capital plans in mind for future funding cycles and to consider the port's new assets (including trailer-mounted generators) as potential emergency resources for the city or county.

No formal court action, ordinance or funding vote occurred during the presentation; the briefing was received and discussed.

Taper: Garrett closed by inviting questions and saying the port would continue pursuing grant opportunities, finishing engineering and seeking construction funds for Riverport West.