Letters Support Training Consortium

J.F. Brennan Inc., Lawson Marine and Rigging, Riverview Tug Service, Inc. and Alter Logistics are among the river-related companies that have signed letters of support for the Corn Belt Ports Rural Maritime and Logistics Training and Education Consortium, which releases its charter this week. Jointly initiated by Western Illinois University and Corn Belt Ports, the consortium represents a first-of-its-kind regional effort to formalize long-term collaboration supporting the workforce that sustains inland commerce.

The multi-state collaboration is designed to strengthen the inland maritime workforce and support economic growth across the Midwest. The consortium brings together a network of institutions of higher education from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin, located along the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, including WIU, Black Hawk College, Carl Sandburg College, Culver-Stockton College, Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, Illinois Central College, John Wood Community College, Northeast Iowa Community College, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and Western Technical College.

This newly established partnership aims to expand workforce training, develop clear career pathways and better align educational programming with employer needs in inland waterways, ports, logistics and maritime-related industries.

“The Corn Belt Ports is proud to partner with Western Illinois University in the creation of this multi-state consortium to address maritime training and education needs,” said Chris Smith, director of operations for the Corn Belt Ports. Smith is a former Army Special Forces soldier who grew up in Chillicothe, Ill., on the Illinois River, and he is credited with being a moving force behind the consortium.

In addition to his work supervising Special Forces operations, Smith has experience standing up organizations and agreements in record time. He served as lead for the establishment of the Bi-State (WI/MN) Northern Grain Belt Ports. The application was prepared and submitted to the U.S. Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center in less than 90 days and included resolutions from 11 riverfront counties and five state ports, letters of support from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Minnesota Department of Transportation, 13 agriculture organizations in the two states and the Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission.

“Ultimately this effort supports and enables economic development for our rural communities through the creation of career pathways,” Smith said. “We look forward to implementing the consortium’s vision to build long-term regional partnerships that strengthen river-based sector collaboration, align programs with employer needs, expand stackable credentials and advance evidence-based workforce strategies that prepare people for afloat and ashore careers. This a unique opportunity to support our rural communities and rural stakeholders, the movement of products and the sustainment of our multimodal infrastructure, which was designated by the U.S. Congress as both a ‘nationally significant ecosystem and a nationally significant commercial navigation system.’ The consortium is proud to partner with We Work the Waterways in the implementation of this initiative.”

Mayor Rita Ali of Peoria, Ill., is another important supporter. Before being elected mayor, Ali was vice president of workforce, diversity and career development at Illinois Central College. Ali served as an adviser for the Emerging Leaders Program, providing strategic guidance and mentoring emerging leaders.

Pathways To Maritime Careers

Dr. Honey Zimmerman, assistant professor of supply chain management at Western Illinois University, said, “At its core, this initiative is about people—creating accessible pathways into maritime and logistics careers. At Western Illinois University, we are focused on aligning education with real workforce needs and building clear, stackable pathways into high-demand careers that support the nation’s inland waterway system and broader supply chains.”

“Western Illinois University is proud to help lead this collaboration, uniting higher education and industry across state lines,” WIU President Kristi Mindrup said. “The Corn Belt Ports Consortium builds a sustainable talent pipeline to support economic growth and strengthen the Midwest’s role in the nation’s supply chain.”Pivotal Time

The consortium’s launch comes at a pivotal time as federal efforts intensify to strengthen the United States maritime industry and workforce infrastructure. By leveraging regional partnerships and educational expertise, the initiative hopes to position the Midwest as a leader in developing a skilled workforce to meet growing industry demands.

“Western Illinois University has long been a leader in workforce development,” WIU Provost Mark Mossman said. “This is another example of commitment to economic growth and development in the region.”Pam Maxwell, director of programs and operations for We Work the Waterways, said, “We Work the Waterways is proud to be part of this consortium alongside Corn Belt Ports and Western Illinois University. This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in strengthening the maritime workforce by expanding awareness and opportunity into rural communities that have long been connected to our inland waterways. By collaborating with universities across multiple states, we’re building a broader, more inclusive pipeline of talent for the industry.”

Center Of Excellence

Maxwell added, “We’re especially excited about the future of this initiative and the application we’ve submitted to MarAd to be recognized as a Center of Excellence. The CoE designation would be an important milestone in helping this consortium in advancing education, training and workforce development within the maritime sector.”

We Work the Waterways recently celebrated its one-year anniversary as a stand-alone nonprofit, after 18 years of promoting education and advocacy for maritime careers.

For more information about the consortium, contact WIU School of Accounting and Business Assistant Professor Honey Zimmerman at hm-zimmerman@wiu.edu.