WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, and U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, announced that the City of Tulsa – Rogers County Port Authority will be awarded a $6.1 million grant to support the construction and improvement of rail transportation and utility infrastructure in support of a new two-million-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility at the Tulsa Port of Catoosa.

In February, Inhofe sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao in support of Oklahoma’s grant application.

“The Tulsa Port of Catoosa is an economic driver for our state and supports thousands of jobs,” Mullin said. “This investment will provide for much needed upgrades and continue to bring more economic activity to our area. I am glad the federal government recognizes the importance of this port and I look forward to seeing the benefits of this investment for years to come.”

“I’m pleased to announce a $6.1 million grant for the Tulsa area to support the Port of Catoosa’s new manufacturing and distribution facility,” Inhofe said. “The Port of Catoosa is vital to our local economy and this grant will help improve and maintain the port’s infrastructure, which so many rely on for their livelihood. With this money, we can work to make the necessary upgrades so goods and services will be able to utilize the port many years into the future.”

“The Tulsa Port’s endeavor to develop its newly acquired 2,000+ acres of land in Inola, Oklahoma into a world class port and industrial location will be greatly enhanced by this INFRA Grant award,” said David Yarbrough, Port Director of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa.

The INFRA program is expected to award $906 million to significant projects that support the Trump Administration’s focus on infrastructure improvements. INFRA advances a grant program established in the FAST Act, authored by Sen. Inhofe in 2015, to help rebuild America’s aging infrastructure.

“This Administration is focused on infrastructure improvements and this $906 million in federal funding would improve major highways, bridges, ports, and railroads across the country to better connect our communities, enhance safety, and support economic growth,” said Chao.