Burns Harbor Wins $11.2 Million Federal Grant to Expand Container Capacity

The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor will receive $11.2 million in federal funding to install specialized cargo handling equipment. The money is intended to prepare the facility for future international container service and improve its ability to move heavy materials. This award is part of a larger federal effort to upgrade infrastructure across the country.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the $498 million investment on Tuesday. The funds will modernize 35 ports located in 19 states. The goal is to strengthen the nation's supply chains. The Burns Harbor project is the largest single award for Indiana in this round.

The $14 million modernization project will use the federal grant alongside $2.8 million in local funding from Ports of Indiana. The money will purchase a mobile harbor crane, bulk-handling attachments, and reach stackers. It will also fund a top handler and off-road yard trucks. The new mobile crane can switch between bulk grabs, breakbulk lifting gear, and container spreaders. This versatility allows the port to handle more steel, bulk materials, construction materials, and project cargo in addition to containers.

Gov. Mike Braun stated that the investment helps Burns Harbor move goods faster. He said it gives Hoosier farmers and manufacturers a more direct path to customers around the world. Ports of Indiana Chief Financial Officer Erica Jackson described the grant as a smart investment in port infrastructure. She noted that the combined funding will create new revenue to support the port long-term.

U.S. Sen. Todd Young emphasized that Indiana's location along the Great Lakes provides a unique advantage in moving goods. He said securing the federal investment to expand Burns Harbor's shipping capabilities has been a priority of his for years. U.S. Sen. Jim Banks called Burns Harbor the beating heart of Indiana's economy. He said the grant is major support for the port's container handling project.

Burns Harbor currently handles an average of 324 barges, 81 ships, 350,000 trucks, and 10,000 rail cars annually. The port's economic impact is pegged at $4.63 billion. It provides $363 million in local and state tax revenue and supports 28,400 jobs. Duffy toured the Portage port in June before the announcement.