The project will establish a new port at a site along the missouri river

The Department of Transportation Maritime Administration awarded $12,827,800 to County Of Monona on July 22, 2026, under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (CFDA 20.823) to establish a new inland river port facility along the Missouri River in Onawa, Iowa.

The award funds four major components. Component 1 involves constructing a new commodity storage building approximately 150–180 feet wide by 150–350 feet long, capable of staging at least 9,000 tons of product with additional flexible capacity. Component 2 purchases receiving and handling equipment, including a tripper conveyor approximately 388 feet in length with approximately 600 tons per hour capacity; a receiving leg steel enclosed drag conveyor approximately 42 feet in length with approximately 250 tons per hour capacity; an elevator leg with a 36-inch stainless steel bucket elevator with a 65-foot discharge height and approximately 800 tons per hour capacity; additional jump transfer conveyors (three units approximately 36 inches by 70 feet with approximately 800 short tons per hour capacity); excavation and material-handling equipment; and barge loading hoppers and conveyors. Component 3 constructs a new liquid storage facility consisting of an approximately 500,000-gallon liquid storage tank capable of off-loading and loading liquid from or to a barge. Component 4 covers site planning and dirt work, including internal road construction, site leveling, and infrastructure development to accommodate heavy industrial use on the southern side of the property.

Performance runs through October 31, 2029. Assistance is provided on a reimbursable basis.

The project will consist of constructing a new commodity handling facility storage for liquid commodities receiving and handling equipment conveyors elevating legs and additional infrastructure development such as internal road construction and site leveling to accommodate use of the southern side of the property for heavy industrial use. Activities to be performed component 1 construct a new commodity storage building new storage and handling facility that is approximately 150 180 feet wide by 150 350 feet long and able to stage at least 9000 tons of product with additional flexible capacity. Component 2 purchase receiving and handling equipment tripper conveyor tripper conveyor approximately 388 feet in length with approximately 600 tons per hour capacity including support platform 36 inch winch base spout support spouting and accessories tripper conveyor support catwalk(walkway on one side existing building receiving system receiving leg steel enclosed drag conveyor approximately 42 feet in length with approximately 250 tons per hour capacity. Elevator leg with an approximately 36 inch stainless steel fertilizer bucket elevator with a 65 foot discharge height and approximately 800 tons per hour capacity including spouting and accessories elevator leg support tower with stairs. Bare front excavator clamshell for excavator extended stick boom for excavator endloader skid loader additional jump transfer conveyors a set of three conveyors approximately 36 inches by 70 feet in dimensions with the approximate capacity of 800 short tons per hour. Barge loading hoppers and conveyors component 3 construct a new liquid storage facility that will consist of an approximately 500,000-gallon liquid storage tank capable of off loading liquid from a barge or load liquid to a barge. Component 4 site planning and dirt work dirt work for the liquid facility construction and commodity storage building that will be based on the soil boring results for the soil. Such work may include removal of topsoil and replacement with suitable material that would support the building structure and any additional road or driveway construction needed to comply with any state or federal regulations. Component 5: engineering as required for project construction and equipment purchase activities. Component 6 grant managemen, compliance and administrative support activities to include monitoring progress maintaining accurate documentation submitting required reports and ensuring compliance with marad and other regulatory standards. Component 7 electrical upgrades component 8 internal road construction and site leveling to accommodate use of an area on the south side of the subject property for heavy industrial off loading. Deliverables expected outcomes from schedule g page 11 of the grant agreement measure cargo volume. Category and description total tons of cargo moved per year teus or short tons cargo volume measures the movement of freight through the project study area. When applicable, report the total cargo volume and the volume disaggregated by type of freight IE containers in TEU and bulk in tons or type of intermodal transport truck or rail. Measurement frequency quarterly. Measure vessel calls. Category and description total vessel calls per year measures the number of vessels calling to the project study area. Must be reported in total and disaggregated by any of the following where applicable vessel type EG container bulk RO RO LNG freight capacity, vessel length, or other. Measurement frequency quarterly. Intended beneficiary county of monona. Subrecipient activities none.