Obama seeks $3.5M for Charleston Harbor deepening

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Charleston Mayor Joe Riley is thanking President Barack Obama for putting money for the Charleston Harbor deepening project in the federal budget.

Obama’s 2013 proposal released Monday includes $3.5 million for the study. The $20 million study is needed before a $300 million channel deepening can begin. Last year’s budget did not include money for the project.

Riley met with Obama in January of last year and again last month. Both times, he said, he stressed the importance of deepening the harbor to the city, the region and the nation.

South Carolina State Ports Authority CEO Jim Newsome said it’s the most important thing that could have happened to the Charleston port. He said it was an incredible recognition by the president as to the merit of the Charleston project.