>> THANK YOU.

>>> AFTER DECADES OF NEGLECT, THE ILLINOIS INTERNATIONAL PORT DISTRICT ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE IS SHOWING ITS AGE.

BUT IT IS LONG PAST TIME FOR FEDERAL, STATE, AND PRIVATE ENTITIES TO SUPPORT THE PORT AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR $50 MILLION TO $100 MILLION TO BRING THE INFRASTRUCTURE BACK, THEY SAY AN INVESTMENT THAT WOULD PAY OFF IN A STURDIER SUPPLY CHAIN AND REDUCE STREET TRAFFIC.

>> FOR A LONG TIME, PEOPLE DIDN'T REALIZE THE IMPACT THE PORT HAS.

WE BRING THE COMMODITIES, STEEL, IRON, CONCRETE WHAT WE NEED TO DEVELOP THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE THEY WILL GO ELSEWHERE.

THE JOBS.

>> Reporter: INTERNET -- THE SECOND DIRECTOR CAME TO THE ROLE IN 2021 WITH YEARS OF EXPENSE AND RAILROAD AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.

HE IS AN ATTORNEY WHICH COMES IN HANDY AS HE IS MAKING A CASE FOR ILLINOIS TO FUND THE PORT OF CHICAGO.

>> WE CAN DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO WITH THE PORT.

>> HE SAYS THERE IS A LOT THAT THEY NEED TO DO, DECADES OF NEGLECT HAVE RESULTED IN MASSIVE SINKHOLES, AND ROADS IN DESPERATE NEED OF RESURFACING THAT CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE CREATES A DUE FOR THE PORT BECAUSE IT HAS NO TAXING AUTHORITY AND -- >> THE WALL CANNOT BE USED, IT IS HARD TO BRING IN SHIPPERS, BRING NEW BUSINESS HERE WHEN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE CANNOT SUPPORT IT.

>> THE PORT OF CHICAGO WAS BUILT TO EXPORT GOODS TO THE NEWLY OPENED SEAWAY.

AS SHIPPING PATTERNS CHANGED, IT SAW A DECLINE IN REVENUE AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE URBAN TRANSPORTATION CENTER SAYS -- >> THE SHIFT HAPPENED GRADUALLY.

TRAFFIC BECAME MORE UBIQUITOUS.

THAT CONNECTED VERY WELL BUT LEFT THE WATERWAYS BEHIND.

FOR THAT REVENUE DECLINE LED THE PORT TO A STATE OF DISREPAIR BUT THEY SEEM MORE POTENTIAL THAN EVER, ESPECIALLY AFTER PANDEMIC INDUCED SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES CHOKED THE ECONOMY.

>> BRINGING FREIGHTS BY WATER IS THE CHEAPEST AND MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO RELY ON WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE COAST.

>> THIS IS AN ADVANTAGE FOR THE PORT .

WE CAN TAP INTO THE BURDEN OF THE ROAD AND RAIL NETWORKS TO TAKE SOME OF THE BURDEN OFF OF THOSE AND BRING THEM TO THE PORT .

>> IT IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ENGINE, MAKING SURE THAT CHICAGO IS A VITAL CAUGHT IN THAT SUPPLY CHAIN.

WE ARE BRINGING IN TAX REVENUE.

>> HE SAYS THAT A BUSY PORT WOULD RESULT IN LESS OF STREET TRAFFIC ON CHICAGO'S CONGESTED ROADS.

>> EVERY YEAR WE LOSE THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF DELAY ON THE ROADS.

AS A PASSENGER OR AS A TRUCKER.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE THIS MOBILITY ISSUE, BY MAKING USE OF THE RESOURCES YOU ALREADY HAVE.

FOR THAT DISTRICT BOARD CHAIR SAYS, TRAINING PARTNERSHIPS COULD CONNECT THE PEOPLE TO THE PORT AND KEEP JOBS IN THE CITY.

>> OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE GOOD USE OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE, BRINGING IN JOBS, WE HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AND PREPARE YOUNG KIDS TO WORK UNLOADING SHIPS.

WORKING IN WAREHOUSES.

>> Reporter: THAT ONLY IS THE BEGINNING OF HIS GRAND VISION, AND HE BELIEVES, IF THEY BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

>> IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS IMPROVEMENT FOR THIS PORT, $100 MILLION, WE WOULD HAVE FULL USE OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR PRIMARY INFRASTRUCTURE.

IF WE LOOK AT INDIANA OR WISCONSIN, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, THIS HAS PLACES WHERE THE DEMAND IS THERE.

WE HEAR FROM INDUSTRY THAT THE DEMAND IS THERE.

THE JUSTIFICATION FOR CHICAGO