Portsmouth port commission seeks council support for waterfront upgrades, grant pursuit and job-focused development

Chairwoman Angelia Allen, chairwoman of the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission, told the City Council during a public work session that the commission reviewed recent port-related investments, ongoing development-site marketing and requested council support for grant applications and seawall modifications to expand cruise-ship calls.

The commission presented specifics on grant programs and recent projects and described several development sites targeted for industrial or port-related uses. "We serve staggered 5 year terms. Our powers include acquiring, owning, leasing, disposing of property, acquiring, constructing, developing, and maintaining and operating wharf, docks, and piers," Allen said, describing the commission's legal role and authorities.

The presentation matters because the PPIC said the projects and grants are intended to generate jobs, tax revenue and increased waterfront tourism. The commission asked council to continue support for pursuing state and federal grants for PPIC-owned sites, to prioritize certain roadway improvements and to consider seawall modifications that would allow more cruise-ship dockings.

Most important figures and programs were presented by Allen and PPIC staff: the PPIC job-creation grant is a locally funded, one-time award of $500 per qualified position for jobs at 175% of the Virginia minimum wage and $800 per position for jobs at 200% of the Virginia minimum wage, with a maximum award of $80,000 per recipient. The Virginia Port Host Community Revitalization Fund provides reimbursement up to 50% of eligible project costs (base award $480,000; maximum $1,000,000). Allen also listed other state and federal resources including the Commonwealth Development Opportunity Fund (administered by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership), Virginia Department of Rail and Transportation programs and USDOT MARAD port infrastructure grants.

Allen summarized recent investments the commission has supported: Lineage Logistics (about $65 million investment; PPIC and state contributions listed at $157,500 each; projected 84 jobs and roughly $812,000 in annual tax revenue); a $20 million project on Wild Duck Lane (port host grant $140,000; projected $250,000/year in tax revenue; 40 jobs); and several other port-host-funded projects that together were presented as producing roughly $1.4 million in annual tax revenue and about 180 new jobs.

On specific sites, Allen described 3920 and 3930 Burton Point Road as a 13-acre former Portsmouth Public Schools site that is also an EPA Superfund parcel and is now under purchase by Stowmount Financial Group. "It is zoned industrial," Allen said. She said the purchaser plans an approximately 180,000-square-foot industrial warehouse for distribution and logistics; the sale was projected to finalize in September 2025 with groundbreaking planned in 2026. Allen noted that site completion requires roadway improvements at Burton Point Road and planned improvements at Victory Boulevard and Elm Avenue.

Allen also described PPIC-owned parcels at 0 Sixth Street and 1603 Seventh Street, a 2.8-acre assembly acquired in 2024 and marketed for flex office, warehouse, light manufacturing, research and development or data-center uses.

The commission reported recurring visits by American Cruise Lines to High Street Landing and said the line currently docks about 15 times a year in spring and fall with about 105 to 120 passengers per ship. "The American Cruise Lines has expressed a desire to increase its visits to 25 to 35 times a year," Allen said, adding that the company has asked for city water connections, refuse removal support, minor seawall-rail modifications to support safe disembarkation and a docking agreement.

Council members pressed for additional detail. Vice Mayor Moody asked, "Questions on the tax contribution. Is that all inclusive of machine and tool tax, real estate tax, personal property tax?" Allen replied, "Yes. So it is all inclusive." On the share of new jobs that would go to Portsmouth residents, Allen said, "I do not. But that's something I can try to gather as best as possible and return an answer to you." The commission and economic development staff said they would try to obtain information on expected wages and residency breakdowns from developers and employers.

Councilman Hugo and others discussed the Southgate Annex, a roughly 16-acre area PPIC is examining for an enhanced-use agreement with Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Hugo said the shipyard is engaged in an "infrastructure optimization" effort that may require use of Southgate Annex as swing space while the shipyard upgrades waterfront operations, and described the typical arrangement as a lease that yields "service in kind" such as pier upgrades. "They basically lease the property to a private entity and get paid in service in kind," Hugo said, describing how improvements to pier infrastructure could be part of any arrangement.

The commission said it wants to be the lead local liaison with the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) on matters related to the Virginia International Gateway and Portsmouth Marine Terminal, and listed upcoming VPA meeting dates on July 29 and Oct. 28 in the presentation materials. As next steps, the PPIC asked for continued council support to pursue state and federal grants for the Burton Point Road sites, prioritization of roadway improvements at Burton Point Road, Elm Avenue and Victory Boulevard, council support for seawall improvements to enable increased cruise ship dockings, and ongoing PPIC updates on shipyard/Southgate Annex opportunities and VPA engagement.

PPIC and city staff also told council members they are coordinating with workforce-development partners — including Portsmouth at Work, Tidewater Community College and Portsmouth Public Schools — to identify skills and certifications (for example, OSHA certifications) that local residents might need to compete for port-related jobs. Allen and economic development staff emphasized that the city cannot require a private company to hire Portsmouth residents, but can work to build a local pipeline of trained workers.

If council endorses the requested priorities and staff secures grant matches, PPIC expects to return to council with updates on specific grant applications, cost estimates and any formal agreements required for seawall or pier modifications.