For media inquiries, please contact Sandra Livingston during business hours at 216-377-1341 or after hours at 216-650-7204.

To view a copy of the Strategic Action Plan click here.

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority reported that overall cargo tonnage increased 31 percent in 2011, largely the result of growth in steel, iron-ore and oversized “project” cargo handled by Port facilities.

The Port handled 3.4 million tons of cargo last year – the highest volume since 2008. General cargo volume rose 16 percent as both steel and project cargo posted increases; while bulk cargo increased 33 percent, as more iron ore was handled by Port operations.  Press Release...
 

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s Board of Directors approved 2012 budgets today and took other actions that reflect the organization’s focus on solutions-oriented initiatives that support the new Strategic Action Plan.

The $6.9 million operating budget and $5.8 million capital budget are largely aimed at growing the maritime business and leading critical river renewal and infrastructure improvements. Press Release...
 

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority applauds Senators Rob Portman of Ohio and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan for today’s introduction of the Great Lakes Short Sea Shipping Enhancement Act of 2011, which could spur economic growth by removing a key disincentive to the expansion of regional shipping services on the Great Lakes.

“For us passage of this legislation is highly relevant and vitally important,” said Port Authority CEO Will Friedman. “We are grateful to Senators Portman and Stabenow for the interest and the leadership they have shown on this issue, which is all about economic development.”  Press Release...
 

Today, Mayor Frank G. Jackson unveiled his Plan for Cleveland’s Downtown Lakefront, detailing a vision of mixed-use development from the western edge of Cleveland Browns Stadium to the eastern edge of Burke Lakefront Airport. Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority President & CEO Will Friedman, Fred Nance, General Counsel for the Cleveland Browns and other community stakeholders attended the presentation at Cleveland City Hall.  Press Release...   Presentation...

Members of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway shipping industry have launched a new, one-stop website resource at www.marinedelivers.com to highlight the economic, environmental and safety benefits of the bi-national navigation system.

The redesigned site, which is aimed at both U.S. and Canadian audiences, will serve as a platform for industry news and announcements, economic statistics, safety information and environmental success stories.  Press Release...

The Great Lakes maritime industry today released the results of a year-long study of the economic impacts of the entire Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway navigation system. The study was commissioned by members of the marine shipping industry, in partnership with U.S. and Canadian government agencies. Martin Associates of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a global leader in transportation economic analysis and strategic planning, was retained to conduct the study.

The study found that maritime commerce supported 227,000 jobs; generated $14.1 billion in annual personal income, $33.5 billion in business revenue, and $6.4 billion in local purchases; and added $4.6 billion to federal, state/provincial, and local tax revenues. North American farmers, steel producers, construction firms, food manufacturers, and power generators depend on the 164 million metric tons of essential raw materials and finished products that are moved annually on the system.  Press Release...
 

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s Board of Directors approved a new Strategic Plan today focused on growing both the maritime and development finance businesses and tackling critical infrastructure projects on the Cuyahoga River – all with the mission of fostering job creation and economic vitality.

“The Board and our community have demonstrated strong support for the plan and recognize the need for the Port to take on new and important responsibilities to safeguard the lower Cuyahoga River for jobs, commerce and recreation,” said Board Chair Bob Smith. “We also recognize that the Port will ultimately be judged not on the plan itself, but on the execution.”  Press Release...
 

A section along the Cuyahoga River known as Irishtown Bend is close to collapse, posing a threat to Cleveland businesses like ArcelorMittal and other companies that rely on the River to do business. At a news conference today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced new legislation that would ease our nation’s infrastructure deficit, provide for the repair of critical projects, and put Americans back to work. Brown’s bill would create a national infrastructure bank to provide loans and loan guarantees for critical infrastructure projects of national and regional importance —like repairs to the Irishtown Bend—that create and protect jobs, increase economic competitiveness, bolster exports, and encourage private investment.  Press Release...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority a $425,160 grant for a specialized system to capture and remove floating debris along North Coast Harbor and the Cuyahoga River ship channel. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant will allow the Port to move forward with one element of a broader plan for river infrastructure renewal as outlined in its draft Strategic Action Plan.

“The Port is in a unique position to be a steward of the Cuyahoga River,” said Port President and CEO Will Friedman. “The River is essential to industry and jobs, and is a magnet for local residents and development. These grant dollars help us contribute to River restoration and will promote jobs, commerce and recreational activities.”  Press Release...
 

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority staff proposed a Strategic Action Plan today that calls on the organization to step up in targeted and unprecedented ways to help deliver on community ambitions for job creation, economic vitality, and waterfront renewal.

Staff presented the draft to the Port’s Board of Directors for review. The Port will solicit community feedback and likely ask the Board to vote on the proposal at its September meeting. Press Release...
 

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority has hired James White, a highly regarded expert on Great Lakes and Cuyahoga River issues, as its first Director of Sustainable Infrastructure Programs.

White’s appointment to the new position reflects the Port’s intent to link economic and environmental revitalization with innovative, sound, and environmentally-friendly initiatives. White will lead programs to integrate sustainable practices across Port activities; oversee Port work to develop a market for sediment dredged from the river so it can be put to beneficial use; and, manage renewal projects on the Cuyahoga River, including a debris-removal operation.  Press Release...
 

Today, the Obama Administration launched Strong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2), a new and customized pilot initiative to strengthen local capacity and spark economic growth in local communities, while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used wisely and efficiently. To accomplish this, federal agencies will provide experienced staff to work directly with six cities: Cleveland, Ohio; Chester, Pa.; Detroit, Mich.; Fresno, Calif.; Memphis, Tenn.; and New Orleans, La. These teams will work with local governments, the private sector, and other institutions to leverage federal dollars and support the work being done at the local level to encourage economic growth and community development.  Press Release...

Officials from the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority met in Port Stanley, Ontario last week with officials from the Municipality of Central Elgin and both sides agreed to begin gauging interest from ferry providers for a cross-lake ferry service.

Port and Central Elgin officials will jointly issue a request for expression of interest in early July to ferry providers. That request will explain what both sides envision for a Cleveland-Port Stanley ferry service and require potential providers to answer a series of questions to determine their interest in the project and to collect suggestions for vessel types, project infrastructure, and the development process.  More...

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority has hired Brian Lynch, a veteran consultant and business professional, as its vice president of planning and development.

Lynch comes to the newly created position with more than 19 years experience helping companies in the United States, Europe, and Asia develop business opportunities and re-engineer international supply chains to be far more efficient and cost effective.  Press Release... 

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s Board of Directors today voted to officially rename and open Dike 14 as The Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve, underscoring the unique value of the 88-acre site as well as the Port’s commitment to environmental initiatives and enhancing lakefront access. The Port plans to open the site on a regular basis and spend up to $25,000 to install an entrance gate, and make other improvements.  More...
 

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald and Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority President/CEO, Will Friedman, representatives from Lincoln Electric, John Baker of the International Longshoremen’s Association and other dignitaries will welcome the first-ever wind turbine from Europe into the Port of Cleveland. Cuyahoga County is providing a $350,000 forgivable loan to The Lincoln Electric Company for the purchase of the Kenersys Europe GmbH K100 2.5 Mega-Watt wind turbine to be installed at the company’s facilities in Euclid. The length of the blades is 165 feet and the nacelle is 278 feet. When finished, the turbine will stand about 443 feet tall when measured to the tip of the blade. This is roughly as tall as the Carl B. Stokes Federal Courthouse and close to three times as tall as the 147-foot tall turbine at the Great Lakes Science Center.  More...  Photos Video

A delegation of officials from Central Elgin, Ontario spent last Friday in Cleveland meeting with Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority officials and others about launching cross-lake ferry service.

Officials from both sides are eager to explore the opportunity and agreed to craft a memorandum of understanding outlining their shared vision and next steps. If a ferry service results it would begin on a pilot basis, operating between Cleveland and Port Stanley with a focus on tourism and other passenger demand. Press Release...

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s Board of Directors today elected a new chair, vice chair and secretary to fill new one-year terms effective immediately.

Robert C. Smith is the new chair, Marc Krantz is vice-chair and Anthony Moore is the board’s secretary/fiscal officer.  Smith replaces Steven J. Williams, who stepped down after serving as chair since March 2009. Williams believes that leadership positions should be regularly rotated among board members. More...

Local officials in Central Elgin, Ontario have agreed to begin formal discussions with the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority regarding the launch of a ferry service between Port Stanley and Cleveland.

On Monday the Central Elgin Council passed a resolution that supports further discussions with Cleveland port officials. Central Elgin is the governing authority over Port Stanley. Talks between the municipality and Port Authority are now expected to accelerate. More...
 

The inaugural meeting of the 2011 Great Lakes Waterways Conference (formerly known as the United States Coast Guard’s Marine Community Days) will be held February 16-17 at the Hyatt Regency Cleveland- Arcade and the Sammy’s Center at One Cleveland Center.

The conference will involve a full range of maritime professionals and industry’s from throughout the Great Lakes region in the United States and Canada. The conference has been organized to bring together the key players in government and the private sector to discuss pressing transportation and policy issues pertaining to the Great Lakes. More...
 

Businesses in Greater Cleveland will soon have a much more efficient connection to the Port of Cleveland and the rest of the world.

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority today approved an agreement with Cleveland Commercial Railroad Company, LLC (CCR) – a “shortline” railroad that already operates two lines totaling 23 miles that serve a portion of Cleveland’s industrial economy.  More...

At today’s meeting of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority board, directors took several measures to close out 2010 and set a solid financial foundation for next year.

The board provided preliminary approval for a $4.8 million capital budget, the first major investment in maritime facilities since 2003. The Port Authority is also making substantial investments into other infrastructure assets and enhancing port security as part of the 2011 capital plan.  More...
 

Bert Wolstein’s grand vision for the Flats East Bank has today come into sharper focus. The project is the first major private urban multi-tenant office development in the nation to close on financing and restart construction since the great recession.

The long anticipated closing of private financing means construction can begin this week on the $275 million project. The Flats East Bank neighborhood includes an 18-story office tower, retail, restaurants, entertainment venues, a boutique Aloft hotel, a riverfront boardwalk and 14 acres of parks and green space.  More...
 

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority has hired Sandra Livingston as its vice president of external affairs.

Will Friedman, CEO of the Port Authority, said Livingston brings a deep reservoir of valuable experience to the position.  "Sandy is savvy and she knows this community well," Friedman said. "She is a distinguished journalist, and we are fortunate to have her come and help us communicate the port's story and its role in growing greater Cleveland's economy."  More...
 

New economic impact studies commissioned by the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority and the City of Cleveland demonstrate that the city’s harbor and river system continues to be one of the largest economic drivers in northeast Ohio.

An economic impact report was presented today by John Martin, CEO of Martin Associates, a leading national transportation economist hired by the Port Authority to assist in the development of a strategic plan and separately hired by the City to assess the economic contribution of river-dependent industry.  More...

Eleven massive pieces of project cargo, each weighing as much as a railroad locomotive, will be unloaded today at the Port of Cleveland and delivered to Alcoa’s Cleveland Works facility in Cuyahoga Heights. The shipment – weighing a total of 2,100 metric tons – includes structural components needed to refurbish Alcoa’s 50,000-ton forging press used to produce major parts for commercial and military aircraft, including the F-35 Strike Fighter.  More...

Cleveland is moving closer to becoming the U.S. home base and first and only city on the Great Lakes that would have a regular scheduled service shuttling containers to and from Canada. Port of Cleveland officials and the owners of the two feeder vessels are in active dialogue to launch the Cleveland-Montreal service in the spring of 2011 and will be available at 3 p.m. today to discuss the service.  More...

The Port of Cleveland will be exporting a two million pound machine manufactured by an Ohio company to Bremen, Germany for use in ArcelorMittal’s plant there.

Butech Bliss, a 150-year old company based in Salem, manufactures heavy equipment for the metals processing industry. For over a year, the company’s 230 employees have been working to manufacture the shear for ArcelorMittal, the largest steel producer in the world. The machine is designed to cut three-inch-thick by 86- inch wide steel in their Bremen Hot Mill.  More...
 

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority board of directors has approved the sale of five acres of land that will be used to expand the facilities of the Great Lakes Towing Co. – which builds and operates tugboats and repairs other large vessels.  More...

An innovative use of sediment dredged from the Cuyahoga River could help lay the foundation for a local job-creating effort while also creating additional capacity for future dredged material. The Cleveland Harbor Task Force says the project, which essentially involves recycling of dredged sediment, will demonstrate the potential for beneficial upland uses. More...

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority today initiated a comprehensive review of its business that will help determine dredging solutions, its best role in the maritime industry and future facility needs. By year-end, the port will have new, crucial information that is needed to chart a clear and aggressive course for maximum economic and community benefit.

“This is a critical milestone for this community,” said Will Friedman, port president and CEO. “We have big decisions with substantial economic consequences for the entire state that need to be made, but we don’t at this time have many of the facts to intelligently make these decisions. Soon, we will.”  More...

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s board of directors today agreed at a special meeting of the board to provide up to $75 million in financing for the expansion of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

The Port will issue up to $75 million in bonds for the $350 million expansion and renovation project so that construction may continue and be completed by 2013. The museum has raised $220 million toward its $350 million campaign and plans to raise the additional $130 million by 2014.  More...

The board of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority agreed today to provide $58 million in financing to give a boost to two development projects in northeast Ohio.

The port will be issuing $5.2 million bonds for an $11.7 million project that will result in the production of three films in by New York-based Nehst Creations, which has a film production studio that is located in the Cleveland Convention Center. Nehst is providing an equity contribution of $6.5 million to the project. The State of Ohio offered a tax break for the project, while Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland guaranteed part of the financing of the project. Bond proceeds will be secured with revenues from the films.  More...

William D. Friedman will begin his new duties June 1 as president and CEO of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority. The Port Authority’s board of directors today unanimously approved the hiring of Friedman, who has spent more than 20 years in portrelated leadership roles.

“I look forward to the challenge and I look forward to making the port more efficient and more effective,” Friedman said. “I will work hard to learn quickly and then pursue sound solutions to the port’s most pressing issues. I promise the community that you will get full energy from me and my staff. And I thank the board for this great opportunity.”   More...

Three finalists have emerged for consideration as the next president and CEO of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority.

The process to hire the Port Authority's top administrator has attracted national interest from an impressive array of applicants. More...

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority renews and restructures major maritime tenant leases, preserving jobs.  More...

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority board of directors today voted to reduce their office lease expense by up to $173,000 over the next four years.

The Port Authority negotiated an agreement to sublease 4,320 square feet of office space – nearly 29 percent of its current office size – to a law firm. In early 2009, the Port Authority leased this portion of office space to support plans at that time for staff expansion.  More...

Mark your calendars – the Tall Ships are sailing back to Cleveland.  The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, working with the Rotary Club of Cleveland, is helping to bring the Tall Ships Festival back to Cleveland.

The Festival, scheduled from July 7-11, is back after a four-year hiatus and is expected to attract as many 150,000 visitors to the port to view the tall-masted vessels. Festival-goers will be permitted to board the ships. The popular Tall Ships event has a project economic impact of up to $20 million for the city.  More...
 

NEW YORK, Jan 6 (Reuters) - U.S. municipal and state governments, despite facing their own cash shortfall, are finding ways to help local property developers navigate the current downturn, in some cases rescuing projects that would otherwise fall victim to the credit crunch.  More...  

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority today landed a major step toward implementing a new lakefront development plan that promotes access to Cleveland’s lakefront, recreation and leisure-time activities, economic development and new waterfront communities.  More...

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority announced today that it has named Peter Raskind as Interim President & CEO, effective immediately.  More...

On Wednesday, July 15, 2009, Mayor Frank G. Jackson will lead a delegation to Halifax, Nova Scotia to discuss collaboration between the Cleveland Port Authority and the Port of Halifax.  The Port Authority is an important component to Mayor Jackson's overall strategy for developing and cultivating economic development opportunities in the global marketplace for Cleveland and Northeast Ohio.  The delegation will meet with several Halifax government and port officials.  Read more...

Master Planning & Development Planning for the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority.  Read more...

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority announced today that it has been awarded Green Marine certification for voluntarily evaluating their performance on six key environmental issues for the past year, including reducing air emissions, minimizing cargo residues, decreasing oily water and controlling invasive species.  Read more...

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority (Port) is pleased to announce a civic engagement partnership with the Cleveland Leadership Center (CLC). This partnership will encourage alumni of CLC programs to get involved with the port’s efforts to transform Cleveland’s downtown waterfront and grow jobs.  Read more...