Columbia Port Commission

The Columbia Port Commission is a non-profit organization based in Louisiana that oversees operations and development at the Port of Columbia. It appears to serve as an economic development entity focused on port infrastructure and security projects funded through federal grants.

Through recent federal grant awards, the Columbia Port Commission has undertaken several infrastructure improvement initiatives at the Port of Columbia. It received two $507,000 project grants from the Delta Regional Authority's Delta Area Economic Development program in 2023 to construct a 4,000-foot rail spur and install a mainline switch, enabling rail service capabilities at the port to support economic growth. Additionally, in 2022, the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded the Commission a $2 million Port Security Grant Program project grant for security enhancements and activities authorized under CFDA 97.056 to reduce maritime security risks through training, exercises, equipment, and other improvements at the critical port facility. The Commission also secured grants from the Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service for rural business cooperative and enterprise development projects, receiving $181,053 in 2022 through the Rural Business Development Grant program. These awards demonstrate the Commission's role in securing federal funding for port infrastructure modernization, security hardening, and economic development initiatives in the region.