Port of Manatee gets grant

The Port of Manatee will get a $3.34 million grant award from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grant is part of the DOT's new waterway development effort, called America's Marine Highway program.

The Port of Manatee represents one endpoint of the Cross Gulf Container Expansion Project, which connects to the Port of Brownsville in Texas. The $3.34 million in federal money will be used to modify two barges and purchase equipment that will increase fuel efficiency.

The investment could reduce diesel fuel usage by 2.7 million gallons a year, a DOT release said.

The Port of Manatee was declared eligible for funding from the Marine Highway program last month.