Gov. Rick Scott says he'll ask the Florida Legislature to appropriate $36 million for Jacksonville port improvements expected to create 3,500 jobs.
In Jacksonville Monday, Scott said Florida can no longer wait for the federal government to fund the project because the state needs jobs now.
Congress has not yet acted on legislation that includes port money.
The Jacksonville port and Army Corps of Engineers would add $2 million to the project.
It is designed to fix navigational problems in the St. Johns River. Strong currents now create potential safety issues for large cargo ships and cause delays as they wait for high tides to subside before entering or leaving the port.
Scott similarly committed $77 million in state funding to a dredging project for Miami's port in 2011.