Rock Island area leaders are celebrating Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature on a bill creating a Rock Island Regional Port District and preparing for the multiple steps required to make it happen.
Mr. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1897 into law on Friday, June 30. The measure was co-authored by Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms and Denise Bulat, executive director of the Bi-State Regional Commission. The new district will be the state’s 20th regional port authority.
“I’m very excited to see that the Port Authority district passed both houses with bipartisan support,” Mr. Thoms said. “This will give us another tool in our toolbox to help with economic development. Now the real work is ahead of us to work on identifying projects throughout the city, not just along the river, and applying for state and federal grants.”
The Rock Island mayor, State Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline, and Chris Smith, operations director for Corn Belt Ports, testified before the Senate Executive Committee in April at the State Capitol. The committee approved the bill and sent it to the House that day, which sent it to the governor for his signature on Tuesday, May 9.
The measure establishing the Rock Island Regional Port District Act within the corporate limits of the City of Rock Island also was co-sponsored by a number of regional state lawmakers from both parties. They were: Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island; Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia; Rep. Johnson; House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna; Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha; and Rep. Norine Hammond, R-Macomb. The bill goes into effect on Jan 1, 2024.
Under the new law, the Rock Island Regional Port District Board members will consist of the Rock Island City Council.
“Bringing about legislation that contributes to the betterment of our local community is the best part about being a legislator,” Sen. Halpin said following the bill signing. “This legislation further equips the City of Rock Island with an instrument for fostering economic growth.”
Rep. Johnson added, “The Mississippi River has always been a unique advantage in our region’s transportation infrastructure. Establishing the Port District allows us to use that advantage to create jobs, grow our economy and protect our vital natural resources.”
Mr. Smith called the measure “great news for the Quad Cities.”
He added: “The passage of Rock Island Regional Port District legislation with strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate sends a clear message of the importance of this area to regional and national supply chains. It also further demonstrates the need and supports initiatives for federal and state investment in the region.This was the only stretch of inland water in Illinois that has an interstate crossing but not a state recognized port.”
