MOSES LAKE - The Port of Moses Lake submitted a $22 million federal grant application Thursday for railroad improvements to boost future growth.

The future project entails constructing and rehabilitating a rail line from Wheeler Road to the port.

Earlier this year, community members met and agreed upon the route that was laid out, engineered and approved by the Surface Transportation Board, said port executive director Patrick Jones this week.

"As an agricultural community and as an industrial community, we need to connect to the mainline intermodal system," Jones told port commissioners during their last meeting.

The rail extension allows for future growth at the port, he explained.

Craig Baldwin, the port's airport director, and Greg Becken, the port's security manager, have "been working very hard to put this grant application together," Jones said.

Baldwin said the port submitted two similar grant applications for the federal funds in the past, but had not been recipients.

It is a challenge to receive the money, as many apply, and there is a less than 3 percent chance of getting there, he said.

During this round, there is a total of $158 million available in federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant money, he explained.

The federal government tries to reduce applications early in the process for those who don't qualify.

The port made it through the pre-application process, which is done to verify if the project is eligible.

The port's project costs an estimated $30 million total.

The port already received $2 million from the state, which was used for preliminary work and plans to ask for another $2 million in state funds.

The remaining $3 million comes from local match money, to include in-kind work, property donation and out-of-pocket cash donations.

Jones said the port received good support from the local community.

The federal delegation is sending letters of support for the project.