News

New Mid-America Port Commission Chairman focused on advocacy

Improving communication and advocacy are the main goals for the newly elected Chairman of the Mid-America Port Commission.

Blake Roderick of Pittsfield, Illinois tells Brownfield he will prioritize in-person meetings with legislators, county boards and other stakeholders in the region.

“Now that we’re seeing some movement, especially on Illinois and the Mississippi rivers, to get some of the lock and dams upgraded to 1200 feet, we want to continue to be a strong advocate of that.”

He says environmental regulations are another area of concern.

“We need to be taking a look at those and assisting those who are wanting to develop ports to make sure that they’ve got a level playing field and aren’t overburdened by a bunch of red tape.”

He explains how their efforts benefit agriculture in the region.

“The work that we’re doing is improving the ability for farmers to get their products to market, whether it’s grain, biofuels or livestock and also bringing in fertilizers and the other products that that agriculture needs in an efficient manner.”

The Mid-America Port Commission covers 26 counties along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri and is designed to promote economic development, trade, growth and use of ports and transportation systems in the region.

Audio: Interview with Blake Roderick