Institute For Environmental Studies

Corn Belt Ports - About

The Corn Belt Ports Initiative is a multi-state (IA-IL-MO), multi-stakeholder effort to establish three federally recognized Port Statistical Areas (PSAs) on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers in the heart of the Corn Belt.  This important first step will allow these PSAs to aggregate shipping data in ways that best represent the region's existing productivity and its potential for future growth as a multi-modal transportation and logistics hub. 

Federal recognition will allow the Corn Belt Ports to be nationally ranked among other PSAs and capture the national and global economic significance of waterborne commerce in the Tri-State region.   This increased visibility will lend support for regional economic development and help demonstrate the value of waterborne commerce on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers north of St. Louis, MO, in the areas served by locks and dams.  This effort will also enhance multi-modal transportation system planning and development to better support regional efforts to obtain support for critical infrastructure. The Corn Belt Ports will also provide direct support for regional interagency Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) – promoting the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources to maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems and the environment.