Major Win for U.S. Maritime Infrastructure and Private Investment

A recent executive order from the current presidential administration focuses on revitalizing the U.S. maritime industry and invokes revolutionary opportunities for stakeholders vested in inland river ports and infrastructure projects.

The Apr. 9 order promotes favorable conditions, such as following:

• Expanded use of private capital to upgrade and expand port infrastructure.
• Maritime Prosperity Zones—modeled after Opportunity Zones—designed to attract investment in river regions and the Great Lakes.
• Financial incentives and loan programs to support port modernization, shipbuilding, and repair.

While early, the opportunities are real for the inland ports and logistics hubs that comprise America’s extensive maritime portfolio. This will include increased funding and less regulatory confusion.

The executive order in a nutshell:

• The Executive Order outlines a broad strategy to modernize U.S. shipyards and port infrastructure, with a strong focus on federal investment, public-private partnerships, and long-term funding through initiatives like the Maritime Security Trust Fund and a new Shipbuilding Financial Incentives Program. It also seeks to boost the U.S.-flagged fleet and incentivize regional investment through Maritime Prosperity Zones. This is huge news for inland waterways and the Great Lakes.
• Workforce development is a major priority, with plans to expand training, education, and credentialing programs. The order also emphasizes streamlining procurement, reducing regulatory barriers, and strengthening U.S. port revenue by enforcing Harbor Maintenance Fee collection. There’s a strong national security component as well, including investment in Arctic maritime strategy and a modernized inactive reserve fleet.
• Assess investment options—The Secretary of Defense (with help from Commerce, Transportation, and Homeland Security) will evaluate how to upgrade and expand port infrastructure using both government tools (like the Defense Production Act) and private investment.
• Target high-impact areas—This includes identifying which ports or related infrastructure are most critical to supporting U.S. shipbuilding and defense goals, and prioritizing those for funding.
• Use clear criteria for funding. They’ll make sure any port investments provide strong returns—not just in dollars, but in terms of national security, economic growth, and job creation.

To read the official White House press release regarding the executive order, please click here.

As a maritime stakeholder, VAA is vested to fully understand and leverage these opportunities towards favorable outcomes for our clients and partners.

Stay tuned for more updates from VAA’s grant strategy solutions team.