The $24 million USDOT BUILD grant, announced July 1 by Rep. James Comer, funds the first phase: a heavy haul road and one of three barge berths at Ohio River Mile 944, with a 650-foot dock and 6.5 acres of operating space. A 20% state match comes from Kentucky’s GRANT Program; environmental and 90% of engineering are complete, making the project shovel-ready pending final permits. Construction is expected to start in 2027 and finish in 2028, adding 14 workers. The existing downtown Paducah port, renamed Riverport East, is at 95% capacity and lacks rail, while the new Riverport West sits adjacent to an 800-acre heavy-industrial zone with triple rail access and two miles from a planned $1.5 billion uranium enrichment facility announced August 2025.