BEAUMONT, TX (November 27, 2000) -- Port of Beaumont commissioners today got their first look at more than $10 million in improvements to the port's grain elevator.

Commissioners toured the 3.5 million-bushel export grain facility at the conclusion of their regular board meeting. The purpose of the tour was to inspect work completed at the grain elevator, which was approved by voters as part of the $27 million Port Improvements Program.

The grain elevator improvement project was designed to increase efficiency and modernize the grain elevator – which was built in 1961. The construction was done in several phases, with the last contract completed in late summer. The grain receiving capacity of the facility was doubled, from 40,000 bushels per hour to 80,000 bushels per hour. In addition, the project improved operating safety, increased the grain cleaning capacity and enhanced automation of the grain elevator.

The port's export grain terminal is leased and operated by Louis Dreyfus Corp., an international grain trading firm. Representatives of Dreyfus and the port's engineer consultant, Lanier & Associates, joined port commissioners on their inspection tour.

Since it assumed the lease of the facility in late December, 1999, Dreyfus has invested an estimated $750,000 in improvements to safety, productivity and efficiency of the grain elevator.

Officials estimated grain tonnage shipped through the grain elevator in its first full year of operation under the new lease agreement would exceed 50 million bushels – about 1 ½ million tons. Dreyfus employs an estimated 40 workers, plus the grain terminal provides an estimated 6,000 man-hours of employment annually for the longshore labor force. Other jobs are provided for such services as grain inspection, fumigation and other segments of the transportation industry.

The grain elevator improvements were necessary to ensure the facility remained economical to operate and competitive in the world grain market.

Planners determined that the facility's unloading capacity and automation required updating due to growing trends in grain shipping that require fast handling of railroad cars, which deliver most of the grain to the port.

The 1997 Port Improvements Program also financed improvements to the port's railroad tracks, roadways and other infrastructure serving the grain elevator.

For more information, contact Don Allee, 409/835-5367