Corn Belt Ports opens Peoria office

PEORIA, Ill. — Corn Belt Ports, the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District and the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission have a new office in Peoria.

“I commend all of those that brought this into fruition,” said Rita Ali, mayor of Peoria. “Ribbon cuttings make it look really easy, but there’s a lot of things that happen behind the scenes that led up to today.”

Ten counties have come together voluntarily to create a port and be federally recognized as a port, said Bob Sinkler, Corn Belt Ports executive coordinating director.

“It started at the county level and snowballed,” Sinkler said.

“This new office will transform the utilization of the Illinois River while providing opportunities for additional resources,” Ali continued. “The purpose of the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission is to attract additional federal, state, business and nonprofit investment into our multi-modal transportation and natural infrastructure.”

Since the Corn Belt Ports initiative was established in 2019, Ali said, the Illinois Waterway has received nearly $1 billion in additional federal and state multi-modal transportation and natural infrastructure investment.

“The Corn Belt Ports handles nearly 100 million tons of freight every year and that is expected to increase year after year,” she said. “The 2022 recognition of the Illinois Waterway Ports as a Top 50 Power Port in the U.S. signifies the importance of the Corn Belt Ports to move massive freight and thereby attract additional investment.”

Community members in Peoria have recognized the Illinois River as a valuable asset, the mayor said.

“The maintenance and expansion of the waterway contributes to the economic growth from employment to transportation to recreation and it is essential our waterways are protected and we are stewards of the environment,” she said.

The work of the Corn Belt Ports brings much needed attention to the underutilized regional transportation asset of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, said Doug House, who spoke on behalf of U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, the Democrat representing Illinois’ 17th Congressional District.

“This is important work and the work they have completed will have far-reaching and generational impacts both economically and environmentally,” House said.

Additional new resources will help construct the reliable river transportation system that farmers and businesses need with larger locks that are properly sized and maintained for the channels, the congressional staff member said.

“Additionally, good-paying jobs will be created by the initial construction and improvements of the lock and dam system, as well as the operation of the ports,” House said.

“What makes Congressman Sorensen so confident in this organization’s success is no other effort in the Midwest lends itself to such a strong bipartisanship as the Corn Belt Ports initiative,” he said. “He lends his full support in their efforts to grow our economy, rehabilitate habitat and improve water quality.”

“Congressman LaHood wants to congratulate everyone who has been involved in this long process to bring this to fruition,” said Katherine Coyle, downstate director for U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, the Republican representing Illinois’ 16th Congressional District. “What you have been able to accomplish is quite amazing.”

And, the congressional staffer noted, it is really just the beginning.

“The financial resources that could potentially pour into our region to support industry and economic competitiveness is incredibly exciting,” Coyle said.

“We know how important it is to the constituents of the 16th District, especially farmers and manufacturers that rely on our waterways to get their goods to market,” she said. “It is essential for economic competitiveness here and around the world.”

“The inland marine transportation system is a critical component in our nation’s ability to remain competitive in the global economy and inland ports play a vital role in this mission and help keep connections strong between the Midwest and the rest of the world,” said Maj. Matthew Fletcher, deputy district commander at the Rock Island District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“The Corps’ ability to provide safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally sustainable water transportation systems for the movement of commercial goods, national security needs and recreation would not be possible without our ports,” Fletcher said.

“We appreciate the time and effort that has gone into the development of this new facility and we’re glad to see partnerships strengthen even more between the corps, the navigation industry, the coast guard, the corn growers and the soybean association,” he said.

“We look forward to working with everyone as we continue to improve the efficiency, reliability and safety of our waterborne transportation.”