Salem Receives $1 Million Grant for Harbor

At a meeting of the Seaport Economic Council that took place on February 25, 2020, it was announced that the City of Salem had received a grant totaling $1 million to support the on-going work on Salem Harbor. The grant will support two specific initiatives:

Salem Wharf Deepwater Berth Repair - $840,000
This funding will help the City of Salem identify and implement near-term improvements necessary to maintain functionality of the Salem Wharf Deepwater Berth, and if near-term improvements are not practicable, or do not require the full requested funding, then funding will be used to begin an assessment of long-term rehabilitation and/or reconstruction of the wharf. This assessment will be closely coordinated with the Harbor Planning effort, as future uses may inform the design. The tourism industry is an important economic driver for the City of Salem, and over the past five years, the City has successfully hosted medium-sized cruise ships at the berth, welcoming thousands of visitors to Salem.
 
Salem Municipal Harbor Planning - $160,000
This funding will allow the City of Salem to embark on a harbor planning and community visioning effort that will revise the Salem Harbor Plan to address significant changes that have occurred both along Salem’s waterfront and in how the City approaches waterfront development in consideration of climate change and sea level rise. The Salem Harbor Plan will serve as a basis for the City and the Commonwealth to employ a shared approach to the development and regulation of waterfront areas subject to public rights and interests.

“I am extremely grateful to the Baker Administration and our legislative partners who made this funding available, and also to the other members of the Seaport Economic Council and to our own City staff who worked so hard to secure these funds,” said Salem Mayor Kimberley Driscoll. “This $1 million grant award will go to support critical efforts along Salem’s historic and vibrant waterfront. For over a decade we have focused on establishing Salem’s historic port as a central part of our economic strength and our community’s vitality. Our connection to our waterfront is and always has been one of Salem’s defining assets and greatest economic forces. We have enlivened our port with new industries, recreational amenities, tourism opportunities, and alternative transportation options. This latest Seaport Economic Council grant award will be especially beneficial as we work to expand Salem Harbor’s facilities and increase visitation to our City by water.”

Click here to listen to an audio version of this announcement.