St. Louis, MO – Acting US Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank visited St. Louis on July 24 to attend a roundtable breakfast with business owners from a range of industries, including America’s Central Port, hosted by the Helix Center Biotech Incubator, an innovation facility owned and operated by the St. Louis County Economic Council. She was joined by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charley Dooley. During the breakfast, Secretary Blank presented Frank Miles, Business and Economic Development Manager at America’s Central Port, with a certificate from the Commerce Department, officially appointing him to the Missouri District …

America’s Central Port invites you to join East-West Gateway Council of Governments, FOCUS St. Louis, and 10 other regional partners for the second of four public meetings of the St. Louis Regional Plan for Sustainable Development’s Tri-Cities Community Planning Area (CPA).  This planning effort seeks to coordinate housing, transportation, environmental and economic development planning across the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. The meeting will be held on August 9th, 2012, at the Granite City Housing Authority located at 2517 Nameoki Road in Granite City (map). Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend …

America’s Central Port – Both Gateway Commerce Center and America’s Central Port teamed up on July 18 to host a regional roundtable of Intermodal experts from the St. Louis metropolitan area. Rail representatives from CSX, BNSF, NS rail, TRRA were joined by; officials from the RCGA, two professors of supply chain logistics management from UMSL and SLU, SCF Marine, the Port of St Louis, Kaskaskia Regional Port District, the City of Greenville, IL, St Clair County Transit, Lee Hutchins of AECOM (EWG Frieght Planner) and America’s Central Port to talk about ways to position the St. Louis region as an …

In efforts to further jumpstart the area economy, starting in July 2012 and each month thereafter, America’s Central Port will host a tour and informational session on its services and business assistance programs.  According to Frank Miles, the Port’s Business Development Manager, “these sessions are ideal for start-ups and small businesses that are looking for additional resources”. America’s Central Port is located in Granite City, IL at the center of the area’s infrastructure and has been committed to economic development since 1959.  The Port provides a small business incubator with space available for as little as $5 per day. The …

Granite City,IL- The St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce Association (RCGA) held their quarterly Energy and Environmental Council meeting on Thursday, June 28, 2012 at America’s Central Port. The Council is made up of regional businesses and companies that are working to address environmental and related issues in the St. Louis metropolitan area. America’s Central Port is a partner in the RCGA Green Business Challenge. Members of the Council heard from Dennis Wilmsmeyer, the Port’s Executive Director and he presented an overview of the Port’s environmental management measures. The group also heard from Steve Ibendahl, a representative of Heartlands Conservancy, …

Mascoutah- On Thursday, June 14, 2012 Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn, St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern, Airport Director Tim Cantwell and officials with North Bay Produce announce the opening of a $5.7 million dollar 37,000 square foot refrigerated warehouse located at MidAmerica Airport. The refrigerated facility, capable of freezing up to 120 tons of blueberries and other fruits and vegetables, was opened by North Bay Produce. The warehousing operation will serve as a conduit for berries and other fruit grown across north and south America. When fully operational, the warehouse will have 80 jobs and serve as a gateway …

Over 50 professionals attended the 2012 Foreign Trade Zone Conference at America’s Central Port yesterday, Tuesday, May 22.  The free event was held in the Port’s warehouse conference center within Foreign Trade Zone #31 and provided manufacturers, distribution and logistics companies, economic development representatives, developers and service providers a background on the economic advantages that can be achieved through the use of a foreign-trade zone. Speakers included Adam Pollet, Deputy Director of Illinois Office of Trade and Investment, Daniel Griswold, President of National Association of Foreign-Trade Zones, Lesley Couch, Director of FTZ Services at Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services, Inc., and Marge …

America’s Central Port, the Illinois SBDC International Trade Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, MidAmerica Airport and Gateway Commerce Center are pleased to present: Foreign Trade Zone Conference Tuesday, May 22, 2012 from 9am – 1:30pm (8:00am registration and networking breakfast) America’s Central Port – FTZ #31, Warehouse 3B 1201 West First Street. Granite City, IL 62040 (map) This free, half-day event will provide manufacturers, distribution and logistics companies, economic development representatives, developers and service providers a background on the economic advantages that can be achieved through the use of a foreign-trade zone. The FTZ program offers tariff benefits and other …

Over 100 professionals representing manufacturers, local and state governments, universities, economic development agencies, and related organizations attended the “Meeting the Demands of Manufacturing in the Next Generation” event hosted at America’s Central Port on Wednesday, April 11, 2012. Dennis Wilmsmeyer, Executive Director of America’s Central Port, welcomed attendees and highlighted the importance of the region’s multimodal transportation infrastructure to economic growth in a global economy.  The event’s presenters provided information on new technology innovation, next generation productivity, expanding exports and market access, and improving manufacturing infrastructure.  Local and regional manufacturing resources were featured throughout the event.  Presentations included: “Manufacturing is …

America’s Central Port participated in the first of four public meeting of the Tri-Cities Community Planning Area of the St. Louis Regional Plan for Sustainable Development. The goal of this effort is to envision a better future for our local communities and our region that is sustainable, equitable, and livable. Staff from East West Gateway’s Regional Planning Agency and FOCUS St. Louis facilitated the meeting which was held at the Granite City Housing Authority Administration offices on Nameoki Road. Over 40 residents, representing the Tri Cities, first participated in an exercise where they were asked a series of questions about their community and …