Careers on the River: Corn Belt Ports Consortium Earns MARAD Recognition
The Maritime Administration has designated the Corn Belt Ports Rural Maritime & Logistics Training & Education Consortium as a 2026 Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education. Illinois Central College is one of ten colleges and universities in the Consortium, and we’re proud to help prepare students for careers along the river.
The Center of Excellence (CoE) program is run by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. It recognizes training providers that prepare people for jobs in the maritime industry, both on the water and on shore. The designation lasts five years.
ICC is honored to be part of this important partnership, now recognized as a MARAD Center of Excellence.
Arnitria Karen Shaw, Vice President, Workforce Development & Community Vibrancy
A River Runs Through It
The Illinois River flows right past our East Peoria Campus. It’s part of the Illinois Waterway, which connects to the Upper Mississippi River. Together, they form one of the busiest freight corridors in the country. Barges and towboats move grain, farm products, and industrial goods through its locks and dams every day.
Keeping that system running takes a skilled workforce. That’s where the Corn Belt Ports Consortium comes in. Led by Western Illinois University, the Consortium brings together schools, employers, and communities across Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin. The goal is simple. Build clear training paths into port, terminal, waterway, and logistics careers.
Our fellow Consortium members include:
- Western Illinois University (lead institution)
- Black Hawk College
- Carl Sandburg College
- Culver-Stockton College
- Eastern Iowa Community Colleges
- John Wood Community College
- Northeast Iowa Community College
- University of Wisconsin–La Crosse
- Western Technical College
You Don’t Need Sea Legs
Not every maritime job happens on a boat. Ports, terminals, and shipyards need people who can build, run, and repair the equipment that keeps freight moving. Those are the skills you learn in our advanced manufacturing and industrial technology programs.
In programs like Manufacturing Engineering Technology and Machine Tool Technology, you get hands-on experience with CNC machines, fluid power systems, welding, and quality control. Through the Consortium, we’re connecting that training to employers across the inland waterway system. Shaw says this work helps strengthen Central Illinois’ role in a more resilient national maritime economy.
Curious where these skills could take you? Explore our programs and find your path.