The Port of Hueneme has been awarded a $12.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for improvements.

“This is a big win for the Port of Hueneme. As one of the crown jewels of Ventura County, the economic impact of the port on our local economy cannot be overstated,” said Congresswoman Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village. “This grant will allow the port to bring in new business, which will bring more jobs to our community.

The grant will fund improvements including the deepening and strengthening of the wharfs and berths, modernizing cargo infrastructure and on-dock rail improvements. The grant is a critical component of the port’s Intermodal Improvement Project, which will allow for larger-capacity vessels, increased cold storage and cargo handling capability to support increased agricultural imports and exports, and on-dock rail that will allow for efficient transfer of cargo.

There were 625 applicants for the DOT grants requesting $10 billion. However, DOT only had $500 million to award.

• Contact Glenn Rabinowitz at grabinowitz@pacbiztimes.com.