On a mission to promote the commerce, transportation and maritime community along the Ohio River, the Central Ohio River Association (CORBA) represents the local businesses from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana utilising the waterway to support their operations. By providing a forum for which vital stakeholders operating along the Ohio River can communicate, CORBA generates vital economic growth for the region and has formed the members of CORBA into a thriving network focused on supporting the local maritime community.
The Ohio River spans across the United States between the mouth of the Mississippi River in Illinois and western Pennsylvania. The river is one of the largest by volume in the US, and the largest tributary by volume of the north-south flowing Mississippi River. Being located on the boundary between the Midwest and South, the river flows through 6 states and so is vital to the commerce and development of businesses spanning the banks of the waterway. With a growing commerce and maritime business spanning the banks of the Ohio River, local business owners and stakeholders saw a clear lack of unity between these companies and the various industries spanning the river. Therefore, these owners came together in 2011 to form the Central Ohio River Business Association (CORBA) which would help promote and maintain the river’s business commerce. By recognising the lack of unity that existed previously, the Association now forms the basis of clear lines of communication between its various members to enhance the role of commerce on the Ohio River.
The community surrounding the Ohio River has long been dependent on the waterway, as it provides vital transportation and a corridor for local and interstate business operations. With so many businesses using the vital river network, these companies and organisations must work together to bring continued economic development and investment into the area for the benefit of those working and living locally. For this reason, target members include all businesses that have a significant dependence on the Ohio River and its tributaries and so these companies make up the general members of the association. General members include those such as barge, towing and fleet companies, passenger services, shippers, equipment supply and services, and terminals. These businesses are in direct operation along the Ohio River and so directly benefit from the unified nature that the Association provides in supporting their business operations.
In addition, CORBA also includes affiliate members and various associate members. Affiliate members include businesses spanning engineering, environmental, legal and consulting services. As well as various port authorities and trucking companies that help make business along the river more seamless. Then, associate members are those who support the local maritime community, including government agencies such as police departments, local city officials, and educational colleges, as well as some logistics companies. Across all of these members, each one is directly involved in supporting the maritime activities of the Ohio River. Between each member, CORBA is committed to ensuring there are lines of communication across the ports, municipalities, and government agencies to ensure that the region’s maritime industry is primed for continued economic growth.
CORBA works with many of the vital ports and port authorities spanning the Ohio River, including the Port of South Louisiana, which is one of America’s largest tonnage ports, providing a vital sea gateway for US export and import traffic. The Port is located on the Mississippi River which the Ohio River flows into, and so it is vital for harnessing the Ohio River’s maritime and commerce operations. In March 2024, CORBA and the Port of South Louisiana signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which outlines how the two would work together to meet mutual goals.
The partnership could see the two work together on cargo handling and helping the businesses of the Ohio River to meet both local and international markets. The Port of Louisiana is particularly vital for international exports with links to China, Japan, Colombia, Mexico, and the Netherlands. For imports, the Port of South Louisiana also has links to Jamaica, Brazil, China, Peru and Mexico. One of the ways it achieves this is through its regional airport, which allows cargo operations to extend through both waterway, land and sea transportation. Therefore, CORBA and the Port of South Louisiana partnering together under the MoU will bring significant benefits to the entire association and the growing commerce of the Ohio River.
By enhancing its regional links through partnerships such as these, CORBA continues to enhance its transportation network which directly benefits local and global supply chains. By transforming the Ohio River network into a thriving hub for transportation, CORBA can better support and promote the region’s businesses through the competitive edge that it provides the association’s members’ operations. This is particularly useful in the manufacturing sector, as the network established by CORBA makes supply chains quicker, more efficient and more reliable utilising the region’s strong relationship along the river and onto local and international markets. Plus, one of the major benefits of transporting bulk commodities along the river, the network provides a more environmentally friendly option, as it is more energy efficient and far cleaner and greener than many other transportation options. The environmentally friendly aspects provide yet another competitive edge on other transportation systems for customers desiring to reduce the carbon footprint of their distribution networks.
Across CORBA there is a clear commitment to enhancing the role the Ohio River plays in supporting the vital businesses and stakeholders at the heart of the waterway. With crucial partnerships with terminals, governmental figures, ports and port authorities, CORBA provides a unified voice championing this development. By promoting and enhancing this network, CORBA continues to unite the river business and industry spanning the Ohio River. We look forward to seeing how CORBA will continue to develop its network across the region, and into international markets through vital supporting, promoting and unifying of the businesses at the heart of the Ohio River’s maritime and commerce sector.
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