Robert Jepson has been re-elected for a second term as chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority‘s board of directors.
Gov. Nathan Deal commended Mr. Jepson for keeping the Savannah harbor deepening project high on the authority’s agenda throughout his first year as chairman.
The governor has allocated $50 million in the state’s 2014 budget for the project and has committed $231 million overall in state funds. The state now awaits funding fromCongress to help cover the estimated $652 million cost. Despite the fact that it has gained final federal approval, President Obama‘s fiscal 2014 budget only proposed $1.28 million for the project, far short of the necessary funding to begin construction.
Before being elected to serve as chair, Mr. Jepson was vice chairman. At the June 24 board meeting, James Walters is the new vice chairman, while former chairmanStephen Green was chosen to serve as secretary and treasurer.
The Georgia ports moved 261,520 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs, in May, up 1.9 percent from the same month in 2012.
