Business Partnerships: Indiana, Long Beach, Sept- Îles

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Valero, Ports of Indiana Celebrate Restart of Mount Vernon Ethanol Plant

Valero Renewable Fuels Company and the Ports of Indiana hosted state and local officials at an August 25 Port Appreciation and Welcome Celebration commemorating the restart of the recently purchased Mount Vernon ethanol plant.

The Mount Vernon plant had been shut down for approximately two years, but Valero Renewables resumed production earlier this month and now employs around 65 full-time workers at the site. It can produce up to 110 million gallons of corn ethanol annually.

The plant is located at the Port of Indiana-Mount Vernon on property leased from the state port authority, Ports of Indiana, the state port authority. Logistical advantages include ready access to corn suppliers as well as strong rail, truck and barge transportation.

"Valero's team recognized there are considerable strategic advantages for the production and distribution of ethanol at an Ohio River port," said Ports of Indiana CEO Rich Cooper. "Valero's investment into this facility creates significant economic impacts in Southwest Indiana and throughout our state. We're pleased to welcome this world-class company to our port family of businesses."

Valero Renewable Fuels Mount Vernon ethanol plant.
Photo Copyright © Ports of Indiana

Long Beach Port Raises Small Business Commitment

The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners has set a higher goal for the Port of Long Beach to buy goods and services from small and very small businesses.

Historically, the port has succeeded in meeting a 25 percent small business participation goal, which led to the recent harbor commission approval of a goal increase to 27 percent for the upcoming fiscal year, beginning October 1.

"The port’s efforts to do business with small and very small businesses are beneficial for the local economy," said Harbor Commission Vice President Rich Dines. "These smaller companies can increase competition for port contracts and also offer opportunities to nurture a more diverse business community in Long Beach and the Southern California region."

Since launching the Small Business Enterprise Program, the port has frequently exceeded its participation goals. In the past decade, approximately 30 percent of its eligible contracting dollars were awarded to small and very small businesses, representing almost $300 million in spending.

Sept-Îles: Aluminum Logistics Center Opens at the Port Authority’s Relance Terminal 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony August 21 marked the opening of the Aluminum Logistics Centre at the Relance Terminal in the Port of Sept-Îles.

The new building, which includes cutting-edge automated equipment, required a total investment of close to C$20 million. It is part of Phase 2 of a project aimed at boosting the capacity of the Relance Terminal. The 6,400-square-meter building has a storage capacity of 15,000 tons of aluminum. Prior to shipment via the "Blue Highway," the metal is stockpiled in the new facility, where it is handled by an automated management system featuring automatic guided vehicles.

"The creation of this type of warehouse, with its leading-edge equipment, has a number of benefits in terms of both costs and productivity, and that helps us stay competitive and meet our growing transportation logistic needs," said André Martel, president and CEO of Alouette Metal Shipping. "This type of innovation, combined with optimization of shipping work methods, means considerably faster ship loading and, by extension, reduces the time that ships spend at dock. Infrastructure is thus available for additional loading. Construction of a closed building in a strategic location close to the ship loading area also means that aluminum sows are protected from the weather, especially during the winter."

Aluminerie Alouette ships over 450,000 tons of primary aluminum per year – about 80 percent of its production – via one of the aluminum industry’s largest port facilites.

Said Port Authority President Pierre D. Gagnon: "As a partner in an economic development project like this, the Port of Sept-Îles contributes actively to making the region an international aluminum shipment hub."

Financing for the Aluminum Logistics Centre came from the Federal Infrastructure Stimulus Fund and a Quebec Ministry of Transportation program, "PRAGES," aimed at reducing or avoiding greenhouse gas emissions

Established in 1992, Aluminerie Alouette is an independent aluminum producer, with nearly 1,000 employees and an annual production capacity of 600,000 tons of primary aluminum. Alouette is the largest employer in Sept-Îles and the largest aluminum smelter in the Americas.

Virginia: International Automotive Supplier Continental to invest $150 million to expand manufacturing operation in Newport News

International automotive supplier Continental will invest approximately $150 million to expand its operation in the City of Newport News thanks in part to the effort and support of the Port of Virginia.

The investment will start up turbocharger production and increase production of Continental’s gasoline high pressure injector, fuel rail and pump assembly lines. This is the first time Continental plans to produce turbochargers in the United States. The project will create 500 jobs.

As one of Continental’s global Lead Plants and Centers of Expertise for powertrain technology, the Newport News manufacturing facility is an essential part of the company’s overall business strategy, said company President Jeff Klei.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with the City of Newport News and the Port of Virginia to secure the project for Virginia. Gov. Terry McAuliffe approved a $2 million grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Newport News with the project. He also approved a $4 million performance-based grant from the Virginia Investment Partnership program, an incentive available to existing Virginia companies.

The company will receive benefits from the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program. Additional funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities will be provided through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program. The company is eligible to participate in the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and will also be eligible for Sales and Use tax exemptions on manufacturing equipment.

"This announcement speaks to Virginia’s ability to compete in the global marketplace and create a significant number of jobs as a result," said John Reinhart, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority. "We are always pleased when a Virginia-based company and current Port customer chooses to reinvest in Virginia and does so, in part, because of the benefits it gets by moving its cargo across the Port of Virginia. We welcome the opportunity to partner with Continental on this expansion by serving as its international trade gateway and by providing funding through the Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Grant Program and the Virginia Port Tax Credits."