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Port of Cleveland Secures $5 Million State Grant for Historic Ore Terminal Modernization
Port of Cleveland Secures $5 Million State Grant for Historic Ore Terminal Modernization
Cleveland – July 15, 2024 —
The Port of Cleveland announced today that it has been awarded $5 million from the State of Ohio to help fund the crucial modernization of the Cleveland Bulk Terminal’s iron ore conveyor system. This vital tunnel system transfers iron ore pellets into a facility through connected conveyer belts that moves the cargo onto a river-class vessel that takes the material to upriver steel manufacturing businesses.
Port CEO William Friedman thanked both the Ohio House and Senate Finance Committees and the entire Cuyahoga County delegation for championing the funding, which was approved by the Ohio Legislature as part of its capital budget.
“We are extremely fortunate to have secured such a significant grant in the highly competitive capital budget. Our local delegation—including State Sen. Matt Dolan, finance committee members and Governor Mike DeWine’s administration truly understand and appreciate the financial impact of this iron ore facility. It is vital for steel production along the Cuyahoga River, which helps underpin our Northeast Ohio economy,” said Friedman.
The Port acquired the iron ore terminal in 1997 and since then has invested millions of dollars in the bulkhead and material handling equipment and has moved away from old technology to improve the site’s efficiency, increase its throughput capacity and implement more environmentally sustainable best practices.
The original section of the mechanical conveyor system was relocated from Lorain in 2003 and includes a concrete tunnel under the stockpiled taconite on the dock. The tunnel and conveyor system were extended in 2021, which allowed for the blending of taconite and greater capacity.
But now, the original section of the conveyor system is near the end of its life and in need of major rehabilitation.
“The tunnel structure itself is good, but the steel and mechanics that hold up the conveyor are are in poor condition,” said Matt Wenham, the Port’s Chief of Engineering and Capital Development. “We are watching it closely for maintenance and hope to start construction in January as we can only shut down this tunnel and conveyor for six weeks a year, between early January and late February, when the Soo Locks connecting Lakes Superior and Huron are shut down.”
Because of this, reconstruction at the terminal is expected to take at least a couple of years. The Port expects to have two shifts of construction for six weeks for two years.
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Partner Highlight - Cleveland's Glowing Silos: Heidelberg Materials' Hub for Sustainable Cement Supply
Partner Highlight - Cleveland's Glowing Silos: Heidelberg Materials' Hub for Sustainable Cement Supply
The twin, glowing silos on Dock 20 at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River are among the most visible structures on the Cleveland waterfront. They hold cement powder and are home base to the Port of Cleveland’s longest-tenured tenant – Heidelberg Materials – which provides the raw materials needed to make concrete for projects across Northeast Ohio.
Heidelberg Materials is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of building materials. They have leased the silos since 1997 and will continue to operate there through 2047.
The silos hold 12,900 metric tons of finely milled cement powder, the primary raw material in the production of cement. The cement arrives via vessel from a cement plant in Picton, Ontario, and is blown into the silos upon arrival.
Heidelberg Materials also operates other inland facilities in Ohio and across the nation, but they emphasize the benefits of their waterfront location for local companies.
“Shipping via vessel is a more cost effective mode of transportation and it is significantly more sustainable,” said Bill Corcoran, VP of Logistics for Heidelberg Materials North America. “A ship can carry 100 tons of materials, while a truck can carry 10 tons and a rail car can handle 10,000. We can operate more efficiently via the port, and that benefits our customers as well.”
The raw materials are used by ready-mix concrete companies, precast concrete producers and general contractors for projects across Northeast Ohio.
An average of 40-50 trucks pick up about 10 tons of cement each day at the Port’s Dock 20, though it could vary per season.
The silos are operated by two Heidelberg Materials employees but support dozens, if not hundreds, of indirect jobs including truck drivers, maintenance workers, laborers, and other contractors.
In 2016, the 150-foot tall silos were artistically lit by the Port of Cleveland to create a public art display known as “Harbor Lights” ahead of the Republican National Convention. “These are industrial facilities, but we are also passionate about creating an inviting waterfront for residents and visitors,” said Port CEO William Friedman.
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Port’s Green Marine certification renewed
Port’s Green Marine certification renewed
The Port’s Green Marine certification was recently renewed. Green Marine is a voluntary environmental certification program for the North American marine industry. It targets prioritized environmental issues such as greenhouse gases, community impacts and water and land pollution. To get re-certified, the Port had to benchmark annual environmental performance through exhaustive self-evaluation guides, have results verified and agree to publication of those results.
The Port of Cleveland was a founding member of the Green Marine program in 2007. In the recertification, the Port achieved “continual improvement” by improving levels in both the Air Emissions – Greenhouse Gases and Community Relations performance indicators.
Inner-city and suburban development projects get $70.2 million in boosts from Port
Inner-city and suburban development projects get $70.2 million in boosts from Port
The Port’s development finance team is issuing up to $70.2 million in bonds for several new construction and redevelopment projects. Those include:
- $32 million in tax-exempt, multifamily housing revenue bonds for an extensive renovation of the 191 unit Gates Mills Villa Apartment Building in Mayfield Heights. The $48 million project includes modernization of all units, significant upgrades to common spaces, mechanical repairs and replacements, new free WIFI, new windows, new roofs, landscaping and other site improvements. The property serves elderly tenants, age 62 and older, and 167 of the 191 units are under Section 8 contracts.
- $15 million in bonds for the development of a new residential project and rehabilitation of a historic building into residential in Ohio City. The $19.8 million Franklin Yard project, located at the corner of Franklin Boulevard and West 32nd street, will include construction of a modern new three-story apartment building with 29 units and restoration of a former YWCA women’s residence and a mid-19 century mansion that will create an additional 38 units.
- $15 million in lease revenue bonds for the 46 two and three bedroom affordable housing apartments and 8 two-bedroom market rate units to be known as the Gordon Crossing Project in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood. The new $17.1 million project is expected to begin construction in Q2 2024. Woda Cooper Development Inc. and Frontline Development Group LLC are partnering on the project. Woda Cooper operates more than 350 properties with 16,000 housing units in 16 states. Frontline Development Group, LLC is a female led, minority owned real estate development company based in Cleveland, Ohio. Frontline develops real estate projects that are committed to innovative economic development and partners at each step of the development to grow the balance sheets of economically and socially underutilized businesses.
- $8.2 million of taxable bonds for construction of a cargo and aircraft storage hangar, cargo terminal, pass-through passenger terminal and vehicle parking spaces for Jets FBO at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The total project is planned to cost $12.6 million. Jets FBO and its subsidiary provide Ohio airports with fixed base operator aircraft services, including aircraft storage, fuel sales and de-icing.
Port authorities in Ohio can offer an array of benefits in the real estate and economic development space. Since 1993, the Port of Cleveland has provided more than $5 billion to more than 160 projects in Cuyahoga County and beyond.
Port seeks nearly $95 million U.S. EPA grant to advance environmental programs
Port seeks nearly $95 million U.S. EPA grant to advance environmental programs
The Port of Cleveland has already proven to be an environmental leader by being the first port on the Great Lakes with a Climate Action Plan. They are now hoping to take that to the next level by pursuing a nearly $95 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant that will help make it one of the most sustainable maritime shipping operations on the Great Lakes. The grant is part of the $3 billion EPA Clean Ports Program, which is designed to fund sustainable infrastructure and electric equipment at U.S. Ports.
Carly Beck, the Port’s senior manager of planning, environment and information systems, said this is the largest grant application the Port has ever submitted. “The EPA is looking for really large and robust ideas and have set a minimum project ask of $10 million,’’ she said. “These grants are to cover 90 percent of costs and only require a 10 percent match.”
The Port’s application proposes a public-private partnership with Logistec USA Inc. – the general cargo and bulk terminal operator – and Great Lakes Towing – the owner and operator of the tugboats that service the Port. The grant funds would be used for warehouse rooftop solar and associated battery energy storage systems, electric cargo handling equipment, shore power for vessels to plug in while at berth, and the construction of two new electric tugboats.
The grant program, if fully funded, would reduce the Port’s maritime CO2 emissions by roughly 40%.
A decision on the grant awards is expected in September.
Port approves $87.2 million in bonds for three projects
Port approves $87.2 million in bonds for three projects
Cleveland – June 13, 2024 —
The board of the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority today approved $55.2 million in bonds for three projects in Cleveland and Mayfield Heights, the majority of them dealing with new and renovated housing. A smaller project involves construction by a facilities provider at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
The projects include:
$32 million in tax-exempt, multifamily housing revenue bonds for an extensive renovation of the 191 unit Gates Mills Villa Apartment Building in Mayfield Heights. The $48 million project includes modernization of all units, significant upgrades to common spaces, mechanical repairs and replacements, new free WIFI, new windows, new roofs, landscaping and other site improvements. The property serves older tenants, age 62 and above; 167 of the 191 units are under Section 8 contracts.
- $15 million in lease revenue bonds for 46 two- and three-bedroom affordable housing apartments and 8 two-bedroom market rate units to be known as the Gordon Crossing Project in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood. The new $17.1 million project is expected to begin construction in Q2 2024.
- $8.2 million of taxable bonds for construction of a cargo and aircraft storage hangar, cargo terminal, pass-through passenger terminal and vehicle parking spaces for Jets FBO at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The total project is planned to cost $12.6 million. Jets FBO and its subsidiary provide Ohio airports with fixed base operator aircraft services, including aircraft storage, fuel sales and de-icing.
“The items the board approved today represent a wide range of tools in the Port’s development finance toolkit which are being used to move these projects forward,’’ said Rhonda Winslow, Vice President of Development Finance. “Two of those projects will help with affordable housing which is something that is in demand. The renovations planned at Gates Mills Villa will bring significant upgrades to the senior citizens who live there, and the Gordon Crossing Project includes affordable housing for the City of Cleveland. And the Jets FBO project will help a great business expand its services.”
The Gates Mills Villa rehabilitation involves renovating an existing L-shaped eight-story building on about 4.28 acres at 6755 Mayfield Road in Mayfield Heights. Work is expected to start in Q3 2024 and be completed about a year later. Related Companies, L.P., is the developer and is one of the largest owners of affordable multifamily apartment complexes in the country.
Woda Cooper Development Inc. and Frontline Development Group LLC are co-owners and co-developers of the Gordon Crossing project. Woda Cooper operates more than 350 properties with 16,000 housing units in 16 states, ranks among the top affordable housing developers and owners in the country, and has a development portfolio of $1.5 billion. Frontline Development Group, LLC is a female and minority-owned real estate development company based in Cleveland. Frontline develops real estate projects that are committed to innovative economic development and partners at each step of the development to grow the balance sheets of economically and socially underutilized businesses.,
“Woda and Frontline are excited to team up with the Port to access their development finance tools in order to help bring this project to the Cleveland and Hough neighborhood,” said Sheila Wright, President of Frontline. “This collaboration is unique as Frontline is not just a local partner but a co-owner, actively making decisions and contributing significantly to the project’s success. We hope our success with this project encourages stakeholders to continue to trust and invest in emerging companies to take on more ownership roles as real estate developers in the region”
Jets FBO provides storage for aircraft in the hangar and on ramp, fuel sales (both management of client fuel and direct fuel sales), deicing, and related aircraft services typical of a fixed base operator. Michael L. Hillman and Douglas N. McConnell have over 70 combined years in the aviation industry and are the sole owners of Marichaels LTD.
“The project concept gathered traction with the support of Manufacturing Works and the Aerozone Alliance,” said Hillman. “Bringing the funding to fruition required the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority. Working with the Port has been win for us on a complicated project. With the FAA, municipalities and land leases involved, it takes unique lender expertise that Rhonda Winslow and her team poses.”
Port authorities in Ohio can offer an array of benefits in the real estate and economic development space. Since 1993, the Port of Cleveland has provided more than $5 billion to more than 160 projects in Cuyahoga County and beyond. Projects have ranged extensively in size and have included the Eaton World Headquarters in Beachwood, Sherwin-Williams new headquarters in Cleveland, Dave’s Supermarket in Cleveland, Saint Ignatius High School renovations & new construction in Cleveland, Crocker Park in Westlake and a Hotel at Canton’s Hall of Fame Village.
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Seasonal dredging essential for maritime industry
Seasonal dredging essential for maritime industry
Dredging is critical for maintaining Cuyahoga River and harbor shipping, and therefore crucial for our regional economy. The Spring dredge cycle is currently being handled by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) contractors, DMYLES Inc. and Ryba Marine Construction Co. They have wrapped up the hydraulic placement of approximately 50,000 cubic yards of material from the federal navigation channel into the Port’s Sediment Processing & Management Facility (SPMF) to the northeast of Burke Lakefront Airport. This material is being dewatered and will be sampled and excavated for beneficial use. The remaining 150,000 cubic yards of material to be dredged this spring will be placed into the Port’s silt basin at the SPMF for permanent storage. An additional 20,000 cubic yards of material from Cleveland-Cliffs’ docks was also placed onsite under a separate contract.
Beneficial uses of sediment include use in construction aggregate, general purpose backfill, brownfield reclamation, and blended topsoil and landscape applications. A major future use will be to create CHEERS, short for the Cleveland Harbor Eastern Embayment Resilience Strategy, a collaborative effort with multiple partners to create more than 100 acres of parkland north and east of the East 55th Street Marina.
Preparations started for Irishtown Bend bulkhead construction
Preparations started for Irishtown Bend bulkhead construction
The first phase of soil removal is nearly done at the Irishtown Bend Stabilization and Rehabilitation Project, and preparations have started for bulkhead construction. Relocation of utilities is continuing.
Upcoming activities include:
- Completing the installation and testing of cables in the Cleveland Public Power underground electrical duct bank tunnel to support removal of the current Riverbed Street overhead electrical lines.
- Completing installation and testing of the relocated 16” Cleveland Water Department line on Franklin Ave.
- Completing construction of the Franklin Avenue re-alignment grade to serve as a temporary construction access road to the site and allow for removing the existing Franklin Avenue and completing phase one of excavation.
- Resubmitting bulkhead drawings for engineering approval.
- Dredging along the face of the proposed bulkhead.
To project webcams have been installed across the river from the site to provide 24/7 viewing of site activities.
Flotsam & Jetsam Vessels Back in the Water
Flotsam & Jetsam Vessels Back in the Water
”School” isn’t winding down for high school students cleaning up debris from Cuyahoga River, Inner Harbor
Cleveland – May 30, 2024 –Course work may be winding down for some high school students, but not for those students who help remove floating debris from the Cuyahoga River and Inner Harbor using a pair of specially designed tandem vessels, Flotsam and Jetsam. Two to three Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School students help with the clean-up three to four days a week after school and throughout the summer.
The Port of Cleveland contracts with Argonaut to captain the vessels and work with students. Argonaut’s mission is to build adventurers through immersive learning experiences that challenge assumptions and shift norms for growing empowered talent in aerospace and maritime fields. Argonaut co-leads the Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Argonaut is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded by D. Andrew Ferguson and Douglas McConnell. Argonaut’s goal is to engage young people in high-quality educational experiences, and increase the number of youths who enter careers in the fields of maritime and aerospace. The students also help with mechanical, fueling and safety inspections and operations of Flotsam and Jetsam.
The partnership with the high school is growing, and the Port is in the midst of developing the Maritime Learning and Resource Center for the school. “Creating a learning space for these students is the next logical step for this immersive learning experience,” said William Friedman, Port president and CEO.
“What I’m proud of is that the Port of Cleveland had the willingness and desire to give students real world experiences on the water,” said Ferguson of Argonaut. “It’s about empowering the students to give back to their city, their river, their harbor.”
Flotsam & Jetsam take about 300,000 pounds of debris out of the water each season, and also help with special events including River Sweep, Blazing Paddles, rowing regattas and the July 4th boat parade.
Flotsam and jetsam are terms that describe two types of marine debris associated with vessels. Flotsam is defined as debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard, often as a result from a shipwreck or accident. Jetsam describes debris that was deliberately thrown overboard by a crew of a ship in distress, most often to lighten the ship’s load. The word flotsam derives from the French word floter, to float. Jetsam is a shortened word for jettison.
To see Flotsam & Jetsam in action: https://bit.ly/3MyZ01y
CONTACT: Nancy Lesic at 216.392.9634 or email nlesic@lesiccamper.com or Betsy O’Connell, 216.702.4331
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Two Ships Opened Cleveland Cruise Season Memorial Day Weekend
Two Ships Opened Cleveland Cruise Season Memorial Day Weekend
Cleveland – May 28, 2024 – 588 vacationers arrived to explore The Land
Both Viking’s Octantis and Pearl Seas opened the passenger cruising season in Cleveland on May 26. This is the second year that both cruise lines will have multiple calls at the Port of Cleveland.
“Our cruise partners have said the Great Lakes region is booming for tourists because they want to experience the diverse cultures that make this region so unique,” said David S. Gutheil, Chief Commercial Officer, Port of Cleveland. “It’s part of the U.S. that these passengers have not seen before. Cleveland alone has very diverse neighborhoods with deep cultural backgrounds, which help explain it’s growing popularity as a cruise ship destination and helping make tourism a vital part of our local economy.”
Last year, well-known travel adviser “The Points Guy” called Cleveland – yes Cleveland – the hottest new cruise destination in North America.
Great Lakes cruise ships have become an economic engine for Cleveland. Cruise ships started docking in Cleveland in 2017 — there were nine that year — and this year 24 cruise stops are planned and more than 50 are already on the Port’s schedule for the 2025 season.
Estimates report that each cruise passenger in Cleveland spends about $150 — or $1.5 million for 10,000 travelers — and other economic impact includes the salaries of dock workers, tour operators and others.
The Pearl Seas, a 210-passenger ship, is the only cruise ship coming through Cleveland which has full private balconies for every room and is a fully stabilized ship.
Viking’s Octantis can carry up to 378 guests. Viking cruise ships first came to Cleveland in 2023. It made eight stops in Cleveland last year and will make eight calls again this year.
Passenger shore excursions in Greater Cleveland include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the West Side Market, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, a walking tour of downtown Cleveland or Little Italy, a hike or biking tour in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, a beer tasting at Great Lakes Brewing Company, a culinary tour and an excursion to Amish country in Geauga County.
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