La Crosse, Wis., April 24, 2026 - UW-La Crosse and Western Technical College have joined a new effort aimed at strengthening the inland maritime industry, a key economic driver in the Coulee Region and across the Midwest.
The newly formed Corn Belt Ports Rural Logistics & Maritime Training & Education Consortium establishes a network of institutions from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri to support the United States’ inland maritime workforce and spur economic growth.
It is the region’s first formal, long-term collaboration designed to boost the workforce that propels inland commerce.
“We are proud to support this innovative partnership, which will strengthen our communities while connecting our exceptional graduates with employers who depend on them to build a strong, skilled workforce,” UWL Chancellor James Beeby says. “At UWL, on the banks of the Mississippi River, freshwater education is a core part of our identity. We look forward to sharing the expertise of our students and faculty, as well as the strength of our programs and partnerships, to advance workforce development in these critical industries.”
Western President Roger Stanford says collaboration is key to growing the workforce and supporting student success.
“This partnership reflects what’s possible when institutions come together around a shared purpose,” Stanford says. “By combining our strengths, we’re creating new opportunities for students and helping meet workforce needs across the region in a more coordinated and impactful way. We are all truly in this work together.”
The two colleges are uniquely suited, geographically and programmatically, to meet employer needs in inland waterways, ports, logistics and other maritime work.
UWL is home to an internationally recognized River Studies Center as well as many strong academic programs connecting students to careers in freshwater.
The university's state-of-the-art Research Vessel Prairie Springs, christened in 2024, has unlocked even more opportunities for research, skill development and community partnerships. One such partner, J.F. Brennan Company, helps to store and maintain the vessel, in addition to consulting with UWL on skill-based projects and curricula.
At Western, programs in engineering technologies, advanced manufacturing, diesel and heavy equipment, welding and fabrication, electromechanical systems, robotics and automation, information technology, and business operations align with career tracks for maritime administration.
“We are providing students with essential skills that are directly applicable to ship repair and maintenance, port operations, industrial manufacturing, supply chain logistics, and infrastructure support for inland waterways and Great Lakes commerce,” says Josh Gamer, associate vice president of Workforce Partnerships & Innovation at Western. “This partnership strengthens our ability to align programs with regional demand.”
The launch of the consortium coincides with mounting federal efforts to bolster the United States’ inland maritime industry and workforce infrastructure.
Leveraging partnerships and expertise, this alliance positions the Midwest as a leader in expanding workforce training, developing career pathways, and aligning programming to meet the current and future needs of employers.
Meredith Thomsen, dean of Graduate & Extended Learning at UWL, expects the collective knowledge and resources of the participating schools to make a powerful impact.
"Joining the Corn Belt Ports Consortium creates new ways for UWL to collaborate with other educational institutions that prepare students for freshwater-focused careers,” Thomsen says. “The diverse members of the consortium all bring different types of expertise to the table. I think that will benefit individual students as well as the nation's workforce."