Consolidated Grane and Barge Co. (CBD) has broken ground on a $47 million expansion at its Ports of Indiana-Mount Veron facility, marking the most sizeable investment in the state’s largest port in 20 years.
The expansion will include new grain storage capacity and new truck unloading facilities, along with a conveyor system that moves grain between multiple sites at the port. Currently, CGB processes about 50 million bushels of soybeans annually at Mount Vernon, where the company produces soybean oil, meal, and soy hulls. The facility expansion will add 4.25 million bushels of storage volume to the facility, while also boosting truck unloading capacity by 200 percent.
According to the Ports of Indiana, construction will likely be completed next year.
“CGB has been a long-standing leader in Indiana agriculture, and this investment at Ports of Indiana-Mount Vernon strengthens two of our greatest assets, world-class infrastructure and a leading agriculture economy,” Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said. “Expanding CGB’s port facilities helps Hoosier farmers move crops more efficiently to global markets, supports rural communities, and reinforces Indiana’s leadership in agriculture and trade.”
Soybeans have boomed at the Mount Vernon port, surging more than 60 percent over the past decade and driving the need for increased capacity and improved truck flow. According to Ports of Indiana, the new unloading system will allow trucks to empty without repositioning, thus shortening turnaround times, reducing congestion, and lowering transportation costs for farmers.
“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, executive vice president of CGB Enterprises, which owns Consolidated Grain and Barge. “By improving traffic flow and reducing wait times, CGB is making soybean delivery at Mount Vernon more efficient, while positioning the facility for the future. This port is an ideal location for growing our business and continuing to expand the value we bring to the agricultural, energy, and food sectors.”
CGB also manages grain merchandising, ethanol, and DDG transload facilities at the Mount Vernon port. The company operates more than 110 grain facilities across the region.
“CGB is a world-class company that has been a tremendous partner at our Ohio River ports for nearly three decades,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. “This investment demonstrates CGB’s strong commitment to Indiana agriculture, our port, and future growth opportunities that support local farmers. It also highlights the strategic competitive advantages Indiana’s ports create through robust barge and rail connections in the heart of one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions."
The Mount Vernon port handles around 5 million tons of cargo each year, with top cargoes handled including grain, soy products, ethanol, fertilizer, steel, and project cargo.
Spread across 1,200 acres, the Mount Vernon port offers connections to five Class I railroads.
