The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission (HCPHC) and Port Bienville have been awarded a $4.5 million grant for the port’s well and tank project.
Port Bienville’s existing well and tank is over 30 years old and performs at a rate of 750 gallons per minute with a tank capacity of 250,000 gallons.
The new project site on Webre Road will add redundancy to the system and provide a new well with a proposed rate of 1,500 gallons per minute, and a new tank capacity of 500,000 gallons, more than doubling the existing capacity and water services for Port Bienville.
“Hancock County Water and Sewer District is committed to the future growth and demands of our industrial customers at Port Bienville,” Farron Hoda, Chairman of the Hancock County Water and Sewer District, explained. “The well and tank project is just the first phase of our continued efforts to advance Port Bienville infrastructure working with our partners and state legislators”
According to port officials, the grant will not exceed $2,225,110 and is supported with a local match of $2,225,110 from the Hancock County Board of Supervisors from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
“Port Bienville serves as an economic engine for Hancock County with approximately 750 jobs and 16 companies,” Theresa Ryan of the Hancock County Board of Supervisors for District 1 stated. “It is important for our Board of Supervisors to use our American Rescue Plan Act funds to address these deficiencies that support and grow our industrial base for existing and future jobs.”
The funds, which will be given to the Hancock County Water and Sewer District (HCWSD) from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), are expected to be allocated through the Mississippi Municipality and County Water Infrastructure (MCWI) Grant program.
“The water deficiency has hindered existing industry expansions, fire ratings, redundancy, and opportunities for new industry at Port Bienville,” Hancock County Port and Harbor Executive Director and CEO Blaine LaFontaine said. “We believe this investment will allow Hancock County to have the capacity to be competitive with new opportunities and support our existing industry demands.”
The project is currently under design from Chiniche Engineering and Surveying, with a projected bid by October 2023 and anticipated completion by December 2024.
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