A Ports of Indiana study shows that the Burns Harbor port generates $4.6 billion in economic activity annually.
The port authority commissioned Martin Associates of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a maritime economic and strategic assessment firm, to study the economic impact of the domestic and international freight that moves through the ports at Burns Harbor, Jeffersonville and Mount Vernon. The study showed an overall economic impact of $8.7 billion annually.
“It’s gratifying to see the incredible economic return Ports of Indiana provides to the state, but our focus is always on building for the future,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock in a press release. “Our ports have hundreds of acres of available industrial sites with direct access to domestic and international markets via river barges, lakers, ocean vessels, and all major Class I rail carriers. These logistics resources provide critical strategic advantages for Indiana’s agriculture, manufacturing and industrial sectors.”
The study also showed that the ports support 49,000 jobs statewide, of which 28,409 are in Burns Harbor. Personal income from all three ports was $3.5 billion, and Burns Harbor workers received much of that at $2.4 billion. The port at Burns Harbor also brings in $363 million in state and local taxes.
Ports of Indiana, which was established in 1961, is a statewide port authority operating three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan.
