There is a new river port coming to Ashland City.
“This is not just about the dollar that we spend today. This is about all of the future generations that are going to participate in this investment that we’re making here today.” Tennessee Deputy Gov. and Commissioner of Transportation Butch Eley synopsized the excitement and impact expressed with the coming of the new river port.
Close to 50 elected officials, business leaders and community partners gathered at Riverbluff Park in Ashland City May 19 for the announcement of a new public-private partnership between Cheatham County, Ingram Barge and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to build a port on the Cumberland River in Ashland City.
Among the dignitaries was Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, 78th District Tennessee State Rep. Mary Littleton, Ingram Barge Chief Executive Officer John D. Roberts, Cheatham County Mayor Kerry McCarver and Ashland City Mayor Gerald Greer. The announcement included speeches from Eley, Greer, Lee, McCarver and Roberts and presentation of plans and schematics of the future port and was followed by a fish fry cooked by TDOT staff.
To be located on the former site of the Cheatham County Highway Department and school bus garage, the river port is possible through a partnership allowing for the construction of an inland port by Ingram Barge at mile marker 162 on the 40-acre site on the Cumberland River. The approximate $30 million cost includes $3 million from TDOT for the construction of the pier, both of which will support multimodal infrastructure and transportation, according to TDOT. McCarver said the county sold the land to Ingram Barge for $2.5 million dollars.
The port project reflects Governor Lee’s focus on improving infrastructure, TDOT’s goals of improving the state’s transportation models and the county’s desire to generate more industry tax revenue and job opportunities.
“Our economy is one of the fastest in America, and that means that we have to stay ahead of that movement in order to continue to lead the country in the ways that we are. One of the ways we do that is through infrastructure, and this is a very important piece of infrastructure to our state,” Lee said.
“It’s also a public-private partnership, which is something that we’ve been talking about for years since our team came into play. When we engage the private sector with the public, then we are certain that projects are done when they should be and that we work for commerce. We have to move commerce in a state like ours, and that river right there is very important,” Lee said.
TDOT Chief of Planning Bureau Preston Ellito explained that not only is river transportation more economical and has a lower environmental impact than truck transport, it also means fewer vehicles on the road, reducing congestion and need for regular maintenance and repairs, resulting in savings for taxpayers.
“If you think about the commerce that’s going to be on the waterway, it’s some of the most heaviest freight, and to be able to have that on the water opposed to on our roads, you can think about the number of pavement cycles and bridge replacements that we’d have to do, so a $3 million investment will be much more than that. We couldn’t do any type of real infrastructure improvement on a road or a bridge with $3 million in comparison to the system-wide benefit,” Elliot said.
Cheatham County Economic Development and Tourism Director Gina Anzaldua was instrumental in bringing Ingram Barge to Cheatham County, and she said the benefit to Cheatham County citizens with the construction of the port is multi-faceted.
“Beyond job creation and better roads, the port could help lower the cost of goods by reducing shipping expenses for businesses, which may lead to lower prices for consumers. It can also attract new companies to the area, boosting our local economy and expanding the tax base, which can ease the burden on individual taxpayers. With less freight on the roads, we’ll likely see reduced traffic and wear-and-tear, saving money on maintenance. There’s also potential for workforce training programs tied to the port, giving local residents better access to higher-paying jobs,” Anzaldua said.
McCarver said the opening of the port will result in approximately $400,000 in annual tax revenue for the county, which will offset the need to look to raise property taxes. “This is a huge win for Cheatham County and will have a generational impact on our county and business base,” he said.
Ingram Barge, based in Nashville, was established in the 70s. Roberts said the project is the culmination of a dream that was a long time coming and a way to overcome the supply chain issues created with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have the opportunity to use the Mississippi River as an example, coming right up into the heartland of this country, and then off the Mississippi you have the Ohio and the Tennessee and the Cumberland, which comes right by here. We can use these natural resources in a very responsible way to move more efficiently, safer, and greener, more economically than any other mode of transportation. I think a lot of businesses are starting to see the economy of those, and thus the terminals and the barges needed to facilitate those businesses,” he said.
Greer said the port is a win for Ashland City in bringing jobs and tax revenue to the area, but in a way that will have minimal impact on the roads and allow the town to retain its residential feel. “ One of my biggest concerns is protecting Ashland City as a residential community. I think that as one of the leaders of the community, I think it is partly my job to figure out how we can grow, but how we can do it in a positive way so that we don’t lose our identity. I don’t want to lose Ashland City’s identity that it had for forever,” Greer said.
Construction on the project is set to start this summer.
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