Americas Central Port, in Granite City, Illinois, is located at the heart of the US transportation network, with access to railroads, multi-modal harbors and four US interstates. The Central Port is home to over 75 businesses. The businesses and services located at the port range from agri-businesses, fabricated construction, chemical manufacturing, warehousing, non-profits, and residential housing.
Americas Central Port is a business leader that understands and values the importance of their community. Executive Director Dennis Wilmsmeyer understands the importance of community for both the businesses at the port and the surrounding community. Understanding the struggles employers have finding and retaining employees and the struggles workers face with finding gainful employment. Americas Central Port began hosting high school tours of the Port, which included area businesses that were struggling to find employees. Students were provided hands on opportunities to see the work, and in some instances try it out, see if they would be interested pursuing careers upon graduation.
The Port has also offered Build Your Future Workshops, engaging youth ages 14-18, for the past two years. The workshop is one-week boot camp, where students can have hands-on experience in the areas of Carpentry, Drywall, Concrete, Plumbing and Electricity. Participants work with skilled staff completing projects and working. Feedback from the project has been overwhelmingly positive from parents. One parent, stating that it provided positive male role models in her son’s life, that he does not receive at home. The port has even hired a participant to work at the port, as a result of the camp.
The commitment to their community does not stop with tours, and workshops, they strive to provide opportunities to all of their community members. New Opportunities is a local non-profit that provides educational and work training opportunities for adults with Disabilities has been located at the port since 2005. When America’s Central Port staff found out, the individuals were looking for volunteer opportunities, they helped them find volunteer activities that would meet the needs of the individuals and state guidelines.