Corn Belt Ports
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Corn Belt Ports
Riverside Global teams with the Corn Belt Ports and under a contract with TransPORT leads the Corn Belt Ports coordinating effort with a focus on promoting economic development in the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway regions. 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 Riverside 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 Principal U.S. 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 and Terminals, the Mid-America Port Commission (MAPC), and the Mississippi River Ports of Eastern Iowa, Western Illinois (MRPEIWI) and the Northern Grain Belt Ports are referred to collectively as the Corn Belt Ports. Together the four ports include the core of the largest grain-producing and exporting region in the U.S.
Illinois River and Waterway
The Illinois River and Waterway (ILWW) 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 and Terminals 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)
Corn Belt Ports Resources
This section provides resources to inform and assist Corn Belt Ports stakeholders to advance economic and ecosystem restoration agendas to support rural, urban and inland ports and marinas development.
Corn Belt Ports Media Release #1 (9 Oct 2020) (Link)
Corn Belt Ports Media Release #2 (28 Oct 2020) (Link)
Corn Belts Ports Media Release #3 (4 Jan 2021) (Link)
Corn Belt Ports Media Release #4 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (9 Nov 2021) (Link)
Corn Belt Ports Media Release #5: Corn Belt Ports Growth Continues and Two Make Top 50 Principal U.S. Ports List (15 Dec 2021) (Link)
Corn Belt Ports Media Release #6: Corn Belt Ports Catch $1.24 Billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), More is Expected (2 Feb 2022): (Link)
Corn Belt Ports Media Release #7: Corn Belt Ports Attract $35 Million in Port Investments more expected from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) (Link)
Corn Belt Ports Media Release #8: Corn Belt Ports Continue to See New Investment After Being Federally Recognized in 2020 and 2021 (June 7, 2022) (Link)
Corn Belt Ports Media Release #9: Corn Belt Ports Expand. The Northern Grain Belt Ports are Federally Approved and
Now Join the List of Regional Ports in the Heart of the Corn Belt Going in to 2023 (January 5, 2023) (Link)
Rock Island District, USACE, Media Release (20 Jan 22)-Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, to receive $1.2B in FY22 through Infrastructure Funding Law (Link)
Biden Administration Releases Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Guidebook for State, Local, Tribal and Territorial Governments (31 Jan 22) (Link)
Quincy, IL (WGEM): Funding distributions begin for Corn Belt Ports (7 Feb 22) (Link)
Corn Belt Ports Operations May 2022 Eddy magazine (Link)
IL Ports Get Burst of State Funding-Feb’22 the Waterways Journal (Link)
Port projects here will enhance ecology & economy 11 May22 Mason County IL Democrat (Link)
New Northern Grain Belt Statistical Port Project Advance Waterways Journal 13May 2022 (Link)
Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission to Follow Corn Belt Ports, Form Major Port Region Capitol Currents June 2022 (Link)
Corn Belt Ports-National Waterway Conference Newsletter 2Jun22 (Link)
IL Farm Bureau supporting Corn Belt Ports Aug 22 (Link)
Investing in the future Quad Cities Business Insight Spring 2022 Port Authority condensed (Link)
US inland ports seek to move grain cheaper, faster _ World Grain 26Sep22 (Link)
More federal money seen for Illinois River upgrades in Peoria area 12Oct22 (Link)
Sen. Koehler encourages collaboration in Illinois port development 12Oct 22 (Link)
Nov 2022-Port designation leads to federal funding – AgriNews (Link)
Bustos, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Visit Rock Island Arsenal to Discuss Inland Waterway Infrastructure Needs – Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (house.gov) (Link)
(Quincy, IL – WGEM) Port Official use new numbers to stress economic development potential (Dec. 29, 2021) (Link)
(East Dubuque, IL – Galena Gazette) Corn Belt Ports continue to grow (27 Dec 2021) (Link)
(Havana, IL – Mason County Democrat) Corn Belt Ports (15 Dec 2021) (Link)
(Quincy, IL – Herald-Whig) Mid-America Port Commission rising in national rankings (28 Dec 2021) (Link)
(Quincy, IL – QC Times) Corn Belt Ports (9 Dec 2021) (Link)
US Army Corps of Engineers: Upper Mississippi River System Program Overview
Upper Mississippi River System
ASCE’s 2022 Infrastructure Report Card
Illinois Infrastructure | ASCE’s 2022 Infrastructure Report Card
Missouri Infrastructure | ASCE’s 2018 Infrastructure Report Card
Iowa Infrastructure | ASCE’s 2019 Infrastructure Report Card
Wisconsin Infrastructure | ASCE’s 2020 Infrastructure Report Card
Minnesota Infrastructure | ASCE’s 2022 Infrastructure Report Card
Watershed Report Card | America’s Watershed Initiative (americaswatershed.org)
Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program FY22 Construction Ready Projects
Navigation Assets Inventory for the Upper Mississippi River System. It is an interactive map that features ports, terminals, boat accesses, and other navigation-related information. It allows users to search for intermodal access with a certain dock type or storage capacity. (Link)