U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg today announced some $450 million in grants for port-related projects to bolster capacity and mitigate supply chain congestion. The funding will flow from the recently adopted $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

“We’re proud to announce this funding to help ports improve their infrastructure — to get goods moving more efficiently and help keep costs under control for American families,” Mr. Buttigieg declared. “President Joe Biden is leading the largest ever federal investment in modernizing our country’s ports, which will improve our supply chains and the lives of Americans who depend on them.”

Bottlenecks continue to hamper cargo flows at various ports, although improvements are now being felt at such key hubs as Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Ports eligible for the new funding must file their applications by May 16, with awards slated to be announced this fall.

According to government officials, the ports concerned will need to show that their projects improve the movement of goods as well as comply with Biden administration goals on issues such as climate change, racial and gender equity and policies favouring domestic jobs.

During the global pandemic, U.S. ports have been dealing with severe supply chain problems that have been aggravated by waterfront labour and trucker shortages.