Great Lakes shipping helps goods and supplies get around the country. Freighters hauling cargo around the Great Lakes are iconic images for the region.

But what happens when they get to port?

Coal, cement, steel, salt and lumber all move through the site — enough volume to support over 6,000 jobs and some $500 million in direct business revenue. But when you look around the port’s facilities, you see acres of steel in all shapes and sizes.

“What you should be able to see is the economy growing,” says Clayton Harris, executive director of the Illinois International Port District.  

Great Lakes Now toured the Illinois International Port in Chicago – where Lake Michigan connects to the Calumet River, the Interstation Highway System and rail networks.