Land bill to spur job growth at Philadelphia port

    Marine terminal planned for Navy Yard area

    A bill that would help Philadelphia expand and develop its port and create thousands of jobs is headed to Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell’s desk.

    The measure would transfer about 200 acres of land at the Navy Yard to create the Southport Marine Terminal.

    State Sen. Larry Farnese, whose district includes the swath of land that would be transferred,  says the terminal would mean jobs.

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    “This project – to call it a land transfer – it’s not even in the ballpark of a land transfer,” he said.  “I mean, what this is going to mean to the city of Philadelphia and what it’s going to mean to Pennsylvania on a global scale.”

    Farnese says Philadelphia faces competition from ports in New York and Baltimore.

    He says the terminal project, combined with a dredging initiative on the Delaware River,  will ensure Pennsylvania doesn’t lose business to neighboring states.

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