Mississippi State DOT to Release New Data on Economic Impact of Ports

NATCHEZ, Miss., May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Inland and Gulf Coast ports in the state of Mississippi produce tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in payroll, according to new data to be released by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (DOT) at a news conference this week.

AASHTO President and Mississippi Department of Transportation Executive Director Larry L. "Butch" Brown will be joined by AASHTO's Vice President and Nevada DOT Director Susan Martinovich; and Anthony Hauer, director of the Port of Natchez, to release the new economic data and discuss the critical need to maintain and modernize all transportations systems, including inland waterways, ports, rail and highways, to ensure economic growth and job creation across the country; a model for success Brown describes as Transconomy.

WHO: Mississippi DOT Executive Director Larry L. "Butch" Brown, President of the American Association of   State Highway and Transportation Officials

Nevada DOT Director and AASHTO's Vice President Susan Martinovich

Anthony Hauer, Director of the Port of Natchez

WHAT: Participants will gather at the port of Natchez, Mississippi, to update reporters on the economic value of the nation's inland ports; the upcoming reauthorization of the surface transportation bill; and the critical need to respond to growing freight traffic to support economic recovery and continued prosperity.  The event is being held in conjunction with AASHTO's Spring Meeting, held in Natchez from May 20-23 at the Convention Center.

WHEN: Thursday, May 20, 2010 – 10 AM CDT

WHERE:  Port of Natchez, 2 River Terminal Road, Natchez, Mississippi

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the "Voice of Transportation" representing State Departments of Transportation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. AASHTO is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association serving as a catalyst for excellence in transportation.  Follow AASHTO on Twitter @aashtospeaks.

SOURCE American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials