Governor Rick Scott wants Florida to be the shipping channel into the East Coast. He announced Wednesday he'll request $34.8 million for Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, and Port of Tampa during the spring legislative session.

Scott said Latin America's booming economy and the Panama Canal's expansion will mean more activity for the state's 15 ports.

"We will be the No. 1 shipping state in the country", promised Scott. "If we do our job there is no way that we fail."

The governor also emphasized a need for more manufacturing jobs.

Port Canaveral would get $9.7 million. Port Everglades would get $14.7 million, and Port of Tampa would get $10.4 million.

Scott spoke in Orlando at an annual convention of the American Association of Port Authorities.