Alcalde & Fay Lobbying Firm Yields New Promise for Manatee Port Goals

PORT MANATEE -- Alcalde & Fay's founder, Kevin Fay, first took the floor and reviewed the companies history during a presentation to the Port Authority Board yesterday at the Intermodal Center. Faye explained that he started the firm in 1973 and now nearly 40 years later, there are 45 partners and staff in what has grown to be the largest maritime practice in Washington D.C. Representing around 130 clients a year, they say they can navigate around the needs and relationships it takes to facilitate success in a port environment.

Lois Moore then displayed the port's current financial position and spoke to the follow-ups of assistance that would make the projected goals easier. Moore compared some of the challenges to their experiences in Miami, Tampa and Jacksonville. She spoke about their "experienced gained" from such projects.

Moore also said the firm would lobby the federal government to assume the long-term maintenance of the channel and harbor basin, and explained that it would be in their best interest to do so. She also pledged that they will help structure grants and federal security funds, meet with committees and work to get seaport reimbursements.

Commissioners had much to say about all they heard. Commissioner Carol Whitmore expressed how much she liked what they were doing in Washington, Commissioner Michael Gallen commented, "At first I was concerned about having a lobbyist  serving more than one port," then expressed how he now saw that as beneficial. Kevin fay said, "We work well with other representatives," when addressing Commissioner Larry Bustle's concerns about keeping the other firms abreast of the efforts. 

Many of the commissioners expressed their concerns to just how important the port will be when the Panama Canal is finished with their improvements. They want the state and the country to see the Port Manatee as an "International Gateway" to trade and commence for a large region of the country. Commissioner Joe McClash added, " I personally want to stay out of the cruise business." Commissioner Whitmore agreed.
 
All of the commissioners thanked the firm for all they were doing and felt the port was on track to bigger and better days.