Corn Belt Ports
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Corn Belt Ports
The Corn Belt Ports protects the integrity of the supply chain and coordinates efforts with a focus on promoting economic development and infrastructure investment in the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway system. The Corn Belt Ports team also works with regional stakeholders to ensure ecosystem maintenance, aquatic habitat restoration and long-term environmental sustainability, as well as preserving and improving water quality in the Mississippi River watershed.
Our Measures of Success:
Increase Port Region tonnage (economic value of goods);
Bring in additional / increased (Federal, State and Non-Profit Organization) investment measured in dollars;
Create new and / or expand existing waterborne commerce and river-related companies, businesses and industries (includes things like ecotourism);
Increase and / or improve aquatic habitat which is measured in acres or river mile connectivity;
Reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions (measured in tons) by moving more freight to the waterways.
Meet the Corn Belt Ports team. We are dedicated professionals committed to solving our most complex water resources challenges.
Upper Mississippi River System
In 1986, Congress designated the Upper Mississippi River System (which consists of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and several important tributaries) as both a nationally significant ecosystem and a nationally significant navigation system. It is the only inland river system in the United States to have such a designation. As a result, the Corn Belt Ports have a major environmental component. Ecosystem maintenance and restoration, as well as preserving and improving water quality are an important, routine focus of the Corn Belt Ports. The Corn Belt Ports are one of the few ports in the U.S. that have a dedicated PhD in environmental science supporting the effort.
Corn Belt Ports
The U.S. Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center recently approved four, adjacent U.S. Regional Ports in the Five-State (IL, MO, IA, WI and MN) area above Locks and Dam 26 in the Heart of the Corn Belt. The Illinois Waterway (ILWW) Ports Commission, the Mid-America Port Commission (MAPC), the Mississippi River Ports of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois (MRPEIWI) and the Northern Grain Belt Ports are referred to collectively as the Corn Belt Ports. Together the four regional inland ports include the core of the largest grain-producing and exporting region in the U.S.
Illinois Waterway Ports Commission
The Illinois Waterway (ILWW) Ports Commission handled over 14 million tons of freight in 2019. The ILWW Ports serve the Illinois River Watershed, which includes nearly half of the state’s agricultural land, and 90% of the state’s population. The ILWW Ports Commission are centered on the notable Illinois River cities of Peoria and Ottawa.
Mid-America Port Commission
The three state Mid-America Port Commission (MAPC) was created by Illinois, Iowa and Missouri largely in response to the devastating 1993 Midwest Flood to support regional economic development. It handled 12 million tons of freight in 2019. It is geographically defined by the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, and is centered on the historic Mississippi River Quincy-Hannibal, IL-MO Combined Micropolitan Statistical area.
Upper Mississippi River Ports (Iowa and Illinois)
The Upper Mississippi River Ports (UMRP) (Iowa and Illinois) is centered on the Quad Cities, IL/IA (Davenport, IA is the largest city) and includes the Upper Mississippi River Port City of Dubuque, IA in the northeastern part of the state. The Iowa side of the river alone routinely handles over 10 million ton of freight each year. Corn has been the top crop in Iowa for more than 150 years running and Iowa is regarded as the best place on the planet to grow corn.
Northern Grain Belt Ports
The Northern Grain Belt Ports (NGBP) are centered on the I-90 crossing of the Upper
Mississippi River and includes the historic inland port cities of La Crosse and Prairie du Chien in Wisconsin, and the ports of Red Wing, Wabasha, and Winona in Minnesota. It includes 7 counties in Wisconsin and 4 counties in Minnesota. The NGBP works closely with the separate ports and terminals in the Minneapolis-St. Paul urban area to advance common regional goals. The NGBP was first federally listed and ranked in 2022.
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a major resource agency for the Corn Belt Ports. (Link)
