The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced on Friday that the Pennsylvania Intermodal Cargo Growth Incentive Program (PICGIP), which aims to increase containerized cargo activity by incentivizing shippers to move cargo through Pennsylvania ports, will be extended until July 2024. The program was previously slated to end in June of this year.
“Pennsylvania’s ports are a crucial part of our state’s transportation network,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. “Increasing shipping activity will help ensure that goods are delivered to market in a timely manner, and the Cargo Growth Incentive Program is a critical tool in keeping Pennsylvania’s economy moving.”
Established in 2015 through PennDOT’s Multimodal Fund, the PICGIP makes up to $1 million available annually to participating ocean carriers that move cargo through Pennsylvania’s ports. Increased cargo keeps the supply chain moving through all of PA, helps secure full-time employment at the terminals, and increases economic activity through indirect and induced jobs.
The Intermodal Cargo Growth Incentive Program is used as a tool to compete with other ports in attracting new ocean carriers and new trade lanes to Pennsylvania. Additionally, the program helps retain and reward loyalty as carriers return to our Ports and continue to have the opportunity to achieve an incentive payment.
The participants sent nearly 3 million units of cargo through Pennsylvania ports since 2015 resulting in approximately $6 million in incentive funds awarded to 9 ocean carriers.
The program incentive is available for new service at a Pennsylvania Port as well as existing carriers. New carriers enrolled in the program receive $25 per new container unit loaded or discharged from vessels to a Pennsylvania port. Existing participants qualify for the incentive payment by exceeding established benchmarks.
An online application is available for interested participants. For more information and to view the PICGIP application and guidelines, visit PennDOT’s website.
