Wednesday morning the Red River Waterway Commission voted to provide $2.4 million to the Port of Shreveport-Bossier. "I think that this is a major investment. We are extremely happy with it. Without that money, this major project would not be able to move forward," said Port Authority Vice President James Pannell. The money will go toward building a new 8 million dollar dock for Steelscape, bringing the total number of docks at the port to five. "It will accommodate the needs of Steelscape and the other companies that we hope the port will be able to attract here," said Mickey Prestridge, Caddo Parish Commissioner for the Red River Waterway Commission. The Washington based steel manufacturing company began operating out of the port last April, bringing with it hundreds of jobs, mostly in the construction field. Steelscape's needs continue to grow. Both the Waterway Commission and the Port Authority are hoping Steelscape's growth will be a motivating factor for other businesses to follow suit. "For Steelscape to come from where they came, to this area. It made a large statement. And I think that statement is being heard all over the country at this point," said Pannell. And if that message is heard by other manufacturing companies it could have a huge impact on the local economy. "It's gonna create job growth for the next 50 years I think," said Wayne Davis, Bossier Parish Commissioner for the Red River Waterway Commission.
