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News & Updates

The Port Report | Q1 2025

  • Apr 30, 2025
  • 1 min read

As we welcome spring's renewal, we're excited to share some of the latest developments and updates from America's Central Port.


📌 Open House & Happy Hour 🍻

May 1st, 4-6 PM | Drinks & Hor D'oeuvres


Join us for an exclusive open house & happy hour at America's Central Port! Network, tour prime industrial space, and enjoy hors d'oeuvres & drinks. Plus, enter to win exciting raffle prizes! RSVP for a guided Port tour. May 1, 2025, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM. Click here to register.




đź“Ś America's Central Port Recognized for Advancing Multimodal Transportation with Salute To Southwestern Illinois Award




đź“Ś Big Moves at The Madison Harbor


We’re upgrading the grain handling and storage system at our Madison Harbor facility in Madison, IL, by constructing a new grain bin to increase storage capacity and improve truck and rail-to-river loading efficiency. This EDA-funded project brings $3.8M in federal capital to the region, with an additional $2M in local match. The new setup will allow rail-to-barge and truck-to-storage operations to run simultaneously, creating faster turnarounds, improved efficiency, and better service for our partners.



đź“Ś Railroad Upgrades Begin at The Granite City Harbor


Approximately $2.6M in rail upgrades funded by IDOT are underway at the Granite City Harbor to boost efficiency and capacity. This project rehabilitates two key tracks, each 1,800 feet long, and upgrades them to handle 286,000-lb railcars. Improvements include new ties, rail, on-track materials, and turnouts to support better internal switching and increased rail transportation and barge loading efficiencies.



RFP Announcement: West 3rd Street Warehouse Dock Realignment

  • Apr 2, 2025
  • 1 min read

Updated: Jun 19, 2025


Bid Announcement - P24-PLAN-02A (RFP No. 01 - Transformers)

Summary:

The Port’s industrial park features 2.1 million square feet of warehousing, most of which was built in the 1940s when the property was the Granite City U.S. Army Supply Depot. Due to the arrangement and spacing of warehouses, roads, utilities, and rail lines on the property, semi-tractor trailers can’t dock at certain warehouse buildings without obstructing the roadway. This project will address the issue by constructing new angled truck docks in Warehouse 2 and 4.


RFP Document Download:


Supplemental Documents:


Important Dates:

  • Friday, May 30, 2025, at 12 PM CST | Proposals are due


Questions and proposals shall be submitted to:

Mr. Ben McCall, Deputy Director

America’s Central Port District

1635 W First Street, Granite City, IL 62040



To be notified about future bid opportunities, register on our Planroom page here:

RFP Announcement: Employee Benefits Advisor Services

  • Jan 22, 2025
  • 2 min read

Updated: Mar 28, 2025


Bid Announcement - P24-PLAN-02A (RFP No. 01 - Transformers)

Summary:

America’s Central Port District is seeking an Employee Benefits Advisor (“Advisor”) to make recommendations for annual healthcare benefits coverage for its employees, including but not limited to health insurance, vision, dental, drug prescriptions, life, long-term disability (LTD) and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), and to act as its Broker to negotiate annually and to administer the coverage daily. The Port’s health plan currently insures 17 employees plus 6 spouses and 14 children on the health, dental, vision, and drug prescription plan. ALL of the Port’s full-time (31) employees are on the Life, AD&D, and LTD plans. The Port currently is on a fully-self-funded health plan and is using a Reference-Based Pricing (RBP) model in order to control its costs.


Proposals shall include the method or model that the Advisor will pursue for the Port in order to ensure that the best insurance is afforded at the lowest possible price, as well as a listing of any companies used for outsourcing or other contractual arrangements (sub-consultants), and the services to be provided by them. If the proposal advocates for the aggregation of the Port’s employees with another / multiple other entities into a pool, sufficient documentation shall be included to ensure that the Port’s employees would be accepted into the pool. Upon selection, the successful Advisor will enter into an agreement for a two-year term, with the Port’s option to extend for up to two additional two-year terms. The policy renewal date for benefits coverage is currently August 1st.


Qualifications:

  • Licensed to do business in the State of Illinois (this applies to the Proposing Company and any/all associated sub-consultants)

  • Have at least three years of experience as an Employee Benefits Advisor

  • Possess the experience and expertise to provide Employee Benefits Advisor services on an ongoing basis

  • Maintain applicable licenses for all healthcare-related matters

  • Maintain sufficient and qualified staff to provide timely service to the Port and its insured, either directly or through sub-consultants

  • Provide a written proposal to the Port containing, at a minimum, the requirements set forth in this RFP

  • NOT represent the Port as the Port’s Broker or Advisor UNTIL they are selected and an agreement is established. Under no circumstances is the Proposer to represent the Port or solicit pricing on behalf of the Port; doing so is an immediate disqualification of the Proposal.


RFP Document Download:



Supplemental Documents:









Important Dates:

  • January 22, 2025 | RFP is available


  • February 10 - 26, 2025 | Written questions accepted and answers provided


  • March 21, 2025 | Written proposals are due


  • March 21 - April 7, 2025 | Proposal review, interviews (likely, but not required), selection of successful proposer, and negotiation of agreement


  • April 14, 2025 | Agreement with selected Advisor is presented to Port Board for approval


  • April 15, 2025 | Pending Board approval, Advisor agreement is in effect for an August 1 enrollment period


Questions and proposals shall be submitted to:

Mr. Dennis Wilmsmeyer, Executive Director

America’s Central Port District

1635 W First Street, Granite City, IL 62040

618-452-8439



To be notified about future bid opportunities, register on our Planroom page here:

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