Milwaukee earns Pacesetter Award

(Posted on 08/05/19)

Port Milwaukee will accept the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award on Wednesday from the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, an operating administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Deputy Administrator Craig Middlebrook will make the presentation during a luncheon ceremony at the Wisconsin International Trade Conference.

The Pacesetter award recognizes ports in the Great Lakes and along the St. Lawrence Seaway that see an annual increase in international cargo. Milwaukee is one of eight ports honored with the award for 2018.

Milwaukee’s international cargo volume increased to 456,000 metric tons in 2018 which represents a 28% increase over 2017. Included in this is both raw material arriving for local manufacturers and Wisconsin grown agricultural products destined for foreign markets.

“Port Milwaukee serves the local economy by providing an efficient transportation route,” Mayor Tom Barrett said. “Local businesses that benefit from commerce at the Port create jobs and over $100 million in annual economic activity in and around our city.”

“The Pacesetter award honors growth in international shipments, and sustained growth is our goal every year,” Municipal Port Director Adam Schlicht said. “The Port’s success is good economic news for Milwaukee, including regional manufacturers, suppliers, and producers seeking efficient and immediate access to global markets via Port Milwaukee’s multimodal transportation infrastructure.”