Supporting Port Investment and Regional Development

Ports are lifelines of commerce, facilitating the seamless exchange of goods, people, and economic prospects across continents. From a regional and local perspective, ports impact communities and regional economies. Therefore, improving port infrastructures can look like a lot of different things: from customizing existing ports to capitalize on new economic opportunities, to leveraging urban ports to empower local communities.

Emphasizing the intersection of port enhancement, economic development, and community wellbeing, Karp Strategies works alongside our clients to establish port systems that enrich the economy, foster sustainable growth, and directly benefit the neighboring communities they serve. Learn more about Karp Strategies’ ports experience below.

Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

Ports are a complex infrastructure, and understanding the interests of stakeholders are critical to building a successful port system. Karp Strategies leverages its expertise in port infrastructure and stakeholder engagement to develop future-oriented port systems with awareness and support from surrounding communities, port tenants, operators, and entities. By actively engaging with and involving stakeholders, we ensure that the resulting port systems align with their needs.

Over the past few years, we have been working with port authorities, developers, and state governments to optimize port performance and navigate future challenges. We assist port clients in prioritizing port utilization and expansion. Additionally, we recognize the intricate relationship between urban ports and the communities surrounding them. Working together, we assess port infrastructures, identify development potentials, and devise strategic solutions to establish port systems that are future-ready and aligned with the evolving needs of our interconnected world.

Investing for a Robust Port System

At Karp Strategies, we firmly believe that achieving a successful port system hinges upon prioritizing port utilization through informed cost-benefit analysis and comprehensive stakeholder engagement.

Between 2017 and 2019, Karp Strategies collaborated with Hatch as a team of consultants entrusted with delivering a comprehensive Port Master Plan for Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ). This forward-thinking plan accounted for the next 30 to 40 years of PANYNJ’s operations, land use, and economic health. Through strategic engagement, we involved various actors affected by the Port, ranging from host communities to municipal, state, and federal agencies to warehouse operators. Together with Hatch and the Port Authority, Karp Strategies developed a holistic stakeholder engagement strategy that tailored different activities and methodologies to ensure meaningful participation from all involved parties. This collaborative approach culminated in successfully delivering a comprehensive Port Master Plan that can benefit the region.

In 2018, PANYNJ recognized the urgency of replacing its aging wharf infrastructures to accommodate the modern ships and their cargo. PANYNJ hired Karp Strategies as part of a consulting team to develop a systematic replacement program for its waterfront structures while ensuring uninterrupted port operations. Working closely with stakeholders, Karp Strategies identified critical factors in wharf design, construction, sequencing, staging, PANYNJ’s prioritization, and a cost-benefit analysis. Our collaborative efforts with stakeholder and project partners positions port systems to drive economic growth, emphasizing their vital roles as global trade lifeline with immense potential for the regional ecosystem.

Preparing Ports for New Opportunities

Karp Strategies actively commits to exploring innovative approaches to improve and expand port system capacities and fostering value for local communities.

Pier 92/94, situated in the densely populated area of Manhattan along the Hudson River, presented an opportunity for transformative redevelopment into a dynamic venue and hospitality destination. Cipriani, seeking to embark on this project, hired Karp Strategies for planning analysis and strategic advisement. Karp Strategies compiled a comprehensive pitch deck with a proposal strategy by thoroughly studying the local context to understand existing community, economic, and market assets and conditions. Embracing the significance of adapting land use to meet evolving needs, Karp Strategies collaborated with the client to seize the opportunity for transformative redevelopment of existing waterfront and redefine the space to benefit local communities.

Activating Underutilized Capacity

Adapting existing port infrastructure to utilize its capacity and expand maritime and industry operations can strengthen the economy for the region. However, the redevelopment projects are often undertaken with the dual objectives of maintaining a functioning waterfront and benefiting the local economy, which can be tricky. The case of New Bedford State Pier amplifies this approach.

New Bedford State Pier is an 8.5-acre waterfront site adjacent to New Bedford’s downtown. In 2020, MassDevelopment, the Commonwealth’s economic development agency, sought future uses for the State Pier to capture its full potential. Partnered with Karl F. Seidman Consulting Services and Jacobs Engineering Group, Karp Strategies examined State Pier’s capacity and identified five possible revenue generation opportunities. Taking a step further, Karp Strategies researched and interviewed stakeholders to evaluate State Pier’s potential contributions to the regional offshore wind energy industry. The newly discovered opportunities for the New Bedford State Pier showcased the possibilities of modern port infrastructure, took the local community’s input to heart and supported regional renewable energy development goals.

Let us know how we can support you!

At Karp Strategies, we recognize the distinct challenges each port encounters. Because of this, we believe that the partnership with government agencies, stakeholders, and local communities is crucial to developing systems that address the needs of each region. By fostering collaboration and inclusivity, we create sustainable and tailored solutions that benefit both the economic development and community’s social well-being. If you have a project where we can collaborate, we invite you to reach out to us at info@karpstrategies.com. We are eager to learn more about your specific needs and explore how we can work together in the future.