THIS EDA PUBLIC WORKS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FACILITIES AWARD WILL HELP THE KASKASKIA REGIONAL PORT DISTRICT (KRPD) CONSTRUCT A SECOND LAYDOWN SPACE AT THEIR KRPD 2 TERMINAL. THE EXPECTED DECEMBER 2025 CLOSURE OF THE NEARBY BALDWIN COAL PLANT WILL RESULT IN JOB LOSSES AND IMPAIR THE REGIONAL ECONOMY?S PERFORMANCE FOR YEARS TO COME. KRPD IS A SOURCE OF REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH, AND FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION IS A KEY INDUSTRY CLUSTER. THE NEW EDA-FUNDED ACCESS ROAD AND TWO LAYDOWN YARDS WILL EASE CONGESTION AT THE FAST-GROWING PORT, WHICH WAS RANKED AS THE 12TH LARGEST INLAND PORT IN THE COUNTRY WITH MORE THAN 2 MILLION TONS OF GRAIN HANDLED EACH YEAR. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO CREATE 50 NEW JOBS AND GENERATE $20 MILLION IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT.