The project will develop a master plan for the port of west virginia port to align with department of transportation usdot strategies and meet market demand

The Department of Transportation Maritime Administration awarded Empire Diversified Energy, Inc. $378,200 on December 30, 2025, under the United States Marine Highway Grants program (CFDA 20.816) to develop a master plan for the Port of West Virginia Port aligned with USDOT strategies and market demand.

The project will produce a comprehensive master plan encompassing site analysis with inventory of existing infrastructure and updated site maps, stakeholder engagement activities to obtain feedback, market analysis of current and future service demands and competitive landscape, conceptual design renderings, phased infrastructure development planning with prioritized projects and cost estimates, regulatory compliance review for port operations and environmental protection, environmental impact assessment of proposed development projects, and risk identification and mitigation strategies.

Performance of work occurs in Follansbee, West Virginia. The period of performance runs from the award date through May 31, 2027. The assistance type is a Project Grant. No sub-recipients are identified. As a planning grant, no defined performance measures are established.

Activities to be performed the project will create a master plan with the following elements site analysis review comprehensive site data inventory existing infrastructure and update site maps. Stakeholder engagement identify stakeholders and plan and hold engagement activities to obtain meaningful feedback market analysis conduct research to determine current and future demands for recipient services, analyze competitive landscape and identify opportunities and needs conceptual design prepare future recipient renderings to support stakeholder engagement infrastructure planning create phased infrastructure development plan based on needs to include prioritized projects cost estimates and schedules and potential funding source identification regulatory compliance ensure all recipient plans are compliant with local state and federal regulations governing port operations environmental protection etc environmental impact assessment summarize potential environmental effects of proposed recipient development projects and risk assessment identify critical elements that have potential for risk to future schedule or project implementation and develop strategies for mitigation of risks. Deliverables expected outcomes as a planning grant there are no defined performance measures. Intended beneficiary empire diversified energy INC. Subrecipient activities none.