News & Press

Forbes Secures Over $1.4 Million in Federal Funds for the Appomattox River Dredging Project

Washington, DC – Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today that $1,402,200 in funding for the Appomattox River dredging project has been included in the federal appropriations bill that passed the House and the Senate and was signed into law by the President.

"I am very pleased that the House and Senate voted to include funding for the dredging of the Appomattox. Time and time again, when I meet with locality officials in Petersburg and the Tri-Cities region, they have told me how critical the dredging of the river is to the economic development and successful revitalization of the surrounding area," Forbes said. "There is a tremendous amount of regional cooperation and support for this important project, and I am pleased to be working with Petersburg and Prince George officials to see this project through to fruition."

The Appomattox River Federal Navigation Dredging project involves the operational and maintenance dredging of the Appomattox River from the City of Petersburg basin to its meeting with the James River. The primary purpose of this project is to restore the Appomattox River channel to a navigable waterway to and from the James River. This project will provide the City of Petersburg and neighboring jurisdictions the ability to improve commercial use of the river in addition to recreational facilities such as a harbor, pier, park and other amenities that will enhance economic development.

Forbes requested funding from the House Appropriations Committee for the Appomattox River project. The funding was included in the FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill that passed the House and the Senate on December 19, 2007. The President signed the bill into law on December 26, 2007.