Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Press releases are provided by companies as is and have not been edited or checked for accuracy. Any queries should be directed to the company issuing the release.

Illinois International Port District Supports $820.4 Million in Economic Activity, Over 6,381 Jobs

The Great Lakes Seaway Partnership announces the release of Economic Impacts of the Port of Chicago, a report documenting the many contributions made by the Illinois International Port District (IIPD).

Illinois International Port District Supports $820.4 Million in Economic Activity, Over 6,381 Jobs

The Great Lakes Seaway Partnership announces the release of Economic Impacts of the Port of Chicago, a report documenting the many contributions made by the Illinois International Port District (IIPD) and Great Lakes Seaway Shipping to the City of Chicago, Cook County, State of Illinois and Great Lakes region. The study reports that in 2017 the IIPD and maritime commerce supported:

- 6,381 jobs
- $820.4 million in economic activity
- $514.8 million in personal income and local consumption expenditures
- $192.6 million in federal and state tax revenue


"The Illinois International Port District handles more general cargo than any other port on the Great Lakes, with an annual total tonnage of over 19 million tons, maintaining Chicago's place among the top 36 ports in the nation. This report focuses on the significant economic impact that the greatest multimodal facility in North America has on the Great Lakes region," says Clayton Harris III, Executive Director, Illinois International Port District. "Further, this data proves that multimodal commerce is vital for a prosperous economy and the Port District is an essential economic engine and catalyst for job creation in Chicagoland and beyond. The Port of Chicago truly brings the world markets to Chicago's doorstep and Chicago's products to the world."

"The 6,381 jobs and $820.4 million in economic activity that the Illinois International Port Authority supported through maritime commerce in 2017 showcases the great impact that the Port has on our community. These impressive results bring its mission to life in igniting jobs and economic vitality for Chicago," said Susan Sadlowski Garza, Alderman, Ward 10, Chicago City Council.

The study reflects the important contributions the Illinois International Port District provides to the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region," says Steven A. Fisher, Executive Director of the American Great Lakes Ports Association. "The jobs supported by the maritime industry include not only those located directly on the waterfront - shipyard workers, stevedores, vessel operators, terminal employees, truck drivers and marine pilots - but also grain farmers, construction works, miners and steelworkers. Many of these jobs would vanish if not for a dynamic maritime industry."

The Economic Impacts of Port of Chicago full report can be downloaded at www.greatlakesseaway.org/economy or www.iipd.com

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway Navigation System

Economic Impacts of the Port of Chicago is a companion report to the broader Great Lakes-St. Lawrence study titled Economic Impacts of Maritime Shipping in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region, a year-long study of the economic impacts of the entire Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway navigation system. The study reports that in 2017 in Illinois, maritime commerce supported:

- 6,476 jobs
- $830.9 million in economic activity
- 10.2 million metric tons of cargo handled
- $521.9 million in personal income and local consumption expenditures
- $202.7 million in federal, state & local taxes

The study reports that in 2017 in the United States and Canada, maritime commerce supported:

- 237,868 jobs
- $35 billion in economic activity
- $14.2 billion in personal income and local consumption expenditures
- $6.6 billion in federal, state/provincial and local tax revenue

The Economic Impacts of Maritime Shipping in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Region Executive Summary and full report can be downloaded at www.greatlakesseaway.org/economy.

* The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System includes impacts of domestic and international cargo that has travelled at some point through the Great Lakes, its connecting rivers and the St. Lawrence Seaway (ending at St. Lambert Lock in Montreal). It excludes Quebec commerce that moves exclusively between Canadian ports on the lower St. Lawrence River, as well as commerce between these Canadian lower St. Lawrence River ports and overseas ports.

More Info: https://greatlakesseaway.org/illinois-international-port-district-supports-820-4-million-in-economic-activity-over-6381-jobs/

The Latest

More Stories

Freespace Robotics announces strategic partnership and investment from industry leader Matthews Automation Solutions

PITTSBURGH, PA / CINCINNATI, OH – January 23, 2025 – Freespace Robotics, an innovator in autonomous robotics for material handling and logistics, today announced a strategic partnership and investment from the Automation Solutions business of Matthews International Corporation (NASDAQ:MATW), a leading provider of warehouse automation software, controls, and order fulfillment systems. This partnership combines Freespace Robotics’ groundbreaking high-density, dynamic storage cube with Matthews’ industry-leading software, unlocking transformative capabilities for warehouse and last-mile operations.

Freespace Robotics’ pioneering solution leverages advanced robotics to deliver high-turnover, small-footprint, high-rise AS/RS (Automate Storage and Retrieval System) technologies. These innovations incorporate traditionally external conveyor functions – such as sortation, sequencing, each-picking, order buffering and pre-staging – into a seamless end to end operation. Combined with Matthews robust software suite and dashboard, which unify product information and inbound and outbound material flows, the Freespace solution offers unmatched versatility across diverse industries and specialized workflows. Together the companies are poised to strengthen core processes and improve KPIs for efficiency, scalability, throughput and cost-effectiveness.

Keep ReadingShow less

Featured

Creform stationary lineside flow rack provides for an organized flow of materials

Creform stationary lineside flow rack.

Photo courtesy of Creform

Creform stationary lineside flow rack provides for an organized flow of materials

Greer, SC—Creform Corporation, a manufacturer of unique products for material handling structures has designed and built a stationary flow rack to be used lineside for an assembly line. The flow rack can be virtually used in any industry and for most application and is particular useful holding an optimal amount of inventory at the point of assembly which maximizes floor space. It also can prevent excessive inventory which is one of the seven waste considerations in lean manufacturing. This flow rack contains an “L shaped” slide pipe and skate wheel conveyor.

Creform sales engineers worked closely with the customer to design this customized solution to meet their specific needs. The result is an optimized flow rack where parts and materials are strategically organized at the point of use. This setup enables workers to quickly locate the components they need, reducing downtime and saving time. Creform offers multiple flow lane options and can create virtually any hybrid solution.

Keep ReadingShow less
Toyota Material Handling's Core Electric Forklift

Toyota Material Handling's Core Electric Forklift

Photo courtesy of Toyota Material Handling

Toyota Material Handling expands portfolio with high-performance, eco-friendly forklifts

COLUMBUS, Ind.,Jan. 16, 2025 – Toyota Material Handling, the North American leader in material handling products and solutions, is expanding its innovative product portfolio with two new offerings: the Integrated Mid & Large Electric Pneumatic Forklifts and a refreshed Core Electric Forklift series. These models deliver superior operational efficiency while enhancing environmental sustainability, reinforcing Toyota’s commitment to its Vision 2030 and its goal to become a carbon-neutral company.

“Our two newest products reinforce Toyota’s commitment to environmental stewardship without compromising the efficiency and power of our reliable products,” said Bill Finerty, President and CEO of Toyota Material Handling. “These two new models are impactful in many different applications, meeting the needs of all our customers and harnessing the innovation and power of our electric products.”

Keep ReadingShow less

Armlogi expands shipping capabilities with Amazon Shipping integration

WALNUT, CA, Jan. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Armlogi Holding Corp. (“Armlogi” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BTOC), a U.S.-based warehousing and logistics service provider that offers a comprehensive package of supply-chain solutions related to warehouse management and order fulfillment, today announced the integration of Amazon Shipping into its suite of shipping solutions. This new addition is expected to enhance Armlogi’s shipping capabilities, providing customers with more efficient and cost-effective options for parcel delivery.

Since its launch last week, Amazon Shipping has already enabled Armlogi to handle thousands of parcels daily. This service supports Armlogi’s commitment to offering versatile, reliable logistics solutions by ensuring timely pickup and delivery for a broad range of customer needs. Amazon Shipping is particularly noted for its efficiency and cost-effectiveness, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to optimize their shipping and distribution strategies.

Keep ReadingShow less
a headshot of Bill Pedriana at Noblelift
Photo courtesy of Noblelift

NOBLELIFT North America welcomes Bill Pedriana as newpresident

Des Plaines, Illinois – January 7, 2025: NOBLELIFT North America, a global leader in lithium-iron material handling technology, is excited to announce the appointment of Bill Pedriana as its new President. With nearly four decades of experience in the material handling industry, Pedriana is poised to lead NOBLELIFT North America into a new era of innovation, growth, and customer-centric success.

Bill Pedriana served as Chief Marketing Officer at Big Joe Forklifts, where his visionary leadership helped rebuild the brand, develop groundbreaking products (including the Joey series of access vehicles and their cobot pallet truck concept), and execute comprehensive sales and marketing strategies. For 14 years, Pedriana played an instrumental role in achieving an extraordinary 14x growth in sales and helping to drive the global expansion of Big Joe’s parent company, EP Equipment.

Keep ReadingShow less