Detroit Wayne County Port Authority urges continued state support, outlines emissions and redevelopment plans

Mark Shrupp, executive director of the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority, told the Appropriation Subcommittee on State and Local Transportation that the Port of Detroit handles millions of tons of cargo, supports thousands of jobs and requires continued state investment to fund cleanup, emissions reductions and redevelopment projects.

"It's my honor to be here to provide some information about the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority," Shrupp said during the hearing that proceeded despite the committee lacking a quorum. He described the port authority's role, its annual state appropriation and plans to reduce local pollution from port operations.

The port authority is a municipal entity formed under a 1978 statute and governed by a board appointed by the City of Detroit, Wayne County and the governor, Shrupp said. He told the subcommittee the authority's mission is "to advance maritime trade and related industries, initiate port and transit infrastructure projects and support economic development in international trade." He said funding for the authority's general operations comes from the state ($600,000 annually) and $300,000 each from the city and county, creating a $1.2 million general fund.

Why it matters: the Port of Detroit moves bulk raw materials that supply regional manufacturers and supports jobs near the Detroit River. Shrupp told legislators that about 8 million to 10 million tons of cargo pass through privately operated terminals in the port region, sustaining about 6,000 jobs and nearly $1 billion in economic activity.

Emissions and cleanup initiatives

Shrupp said the port authority has a multi‑year plan to reduce pollutants from port activity and aims for net‑zero emissions by 2040. The authority used state funds to complete a baseline air quality assessment and secured an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant to buy electric equipment, chargers and other zero‑tailpipe solutions. Shrupp described an immediate step to expand use of biodiesel blends, saying, "The number 1 and most immediate of those strategies is to transition from diesel to biodiesel."

He said the EPA award includes a $1,250,000 local match provided by the state and that the federal grant experienced a short freeze after the presidential transition before a court injunction allowed drawdowns to resume. Some electric port equipment has long lead times, Shrupp said, so spending the grant will occur over multiple years.

Shrupp also described planning work on alternative fuels and a proposed "fuel barge" concept to provide shore power so vessels can turn off onboard generators while docked.

Workforce, tourism and terminals

Beyond cargo, the authority runs outreach to recruit workers for maritime trades and supports events that bring tourists to Detroit. Shrupp said the port will host about 70 cruise ship visits in a season that could bring roughly 15,000 passengers through the city and will hold a Tall Ships Festival in August.

Brownfields, revolving loans and redevelopment

The port authority administers a revolving loan program for brownfield cleanup projects and has used the fund for projects including hospital campus expansions, affordable housing and a grocery co‑op. Shrupp said the fund typically covers projects under $1 million and is available within the authority's jurisdiction in Wayne County. He described larger sites — notably former U.S. Steel property on and near Zug Island — as requiring substantially more funding that may involve federal Superfund processes or direct responsibility by the current owner.

On redevelopment of the U.S. Steel sites and Zug Island, Shrupp said recent corporate announcements of multibillion‑dollar investment create an opening to push for local projects. He said part of the announced $11 billion investment is unallocated and could support a proposed mini‑mill; the port authority and local communities are coordinating with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on proposals.

Regional context and program funding

Shrupp compared Michigan's maritime support with other states: he cited $50 million recently invested in Burns Harbor, Indiana; about $150 million Illinois has committed since 2019 to its harbor and river systems; and Ohio's recurring maritime assistance program at $10 million. He noted that Michigan received $5 million into the Michigan Maritime Facility Assistance Program (MMFAP) in 2024 but that the program had no funding in 2025 and urged lawmakers to consider refunding the program so private and public terminals can compete for capital improvements.

Jones Act and international shipping

Shrupp clarified the Jones Act's domestic shipping requirement: "the requirement is that for any ship that is moving from 1 US terminal to another US terminal, that the ship be built, owned, and and staffed with US," he said, adding that Canadian vessels moving cargo between Canada and the U.S. are not subject to that domestic‑only rule. He also explained limits on ship size for the St. Lawrence Seaway system (roughly 800 feet by 90 feet), which constrains the size of ocean‑going container ships that can reach Great Lakes ports.

Committee context and next steps

Representative Steele, chair of the subcommittee, said the committee wanted members and the public to see the port's work despite the lack of a quorum. Representative Warden asked follow‑up questions about types of steel imported from Europe and local manufacturing capacity; Shrupp said some specialty steel and coil products are imported because domestic production has declined.

Shrupp asked legislators to consider sustaining the port authority's annual appropriation and to reauthorize or refill capital programs such as the Michigan Maritime Facility Assistance Program to help terminals invest in cleaner equipment and infrastructure.

The subcommittee held the hearing and heard questions and answers but did not take any formal votes on funding during the session.