State and local officials and the Ports of Indiana celebrated the groundbreaking Tuesday of Consolidated Grain and Barge Co.'s $47 million expansion at Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon, marking the largest investment at Indiana’s largest port in more than 20 years.
Project scope
The expansion is designed to triple grain handling capacity of CGB’s soybean processing operations at the Ohio River port. The company currently processes approximately 50 million bushels of soybeans annually at Mount Vernon, producing soybean oil, meal and soy hulls shipped to livestock producers and food companies worldwide.
The project includes new grain storage and truck unloading facilities, plus a conveyor system transferring grain between multiple port sites. The expansion will increase storage volume by 4.25 million bushels and boost truck unloading capacity by 200 percent. Construction is expected to be completed in 2027.
Growing demand
CGB’s soybean volume at Mount Vernon has increased more than 60 percent over the past decade, driving the need for expanded capacity and improved truck flow.
“We strongly value our relationship with the state of Indiana, Ports of Indiana and the Mount Vernon community, and this investment centers on serving our farmers and the local community,” said Tom Malecha, CGB Enterprises Inc. executive vice president.
The new unloading system will allow entire truckloads to discharge without repositioning, reducing congestion, shortening turnaround times and lowering transportation costs for local farmers.
CGB, founded in 1969, operates more than 110 grain facilities across the Midwest with integrated barge, rail and truck transportation capabilities.
