Today, the U.S. Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) announced that eight U.S. ports in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System received the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award from GLS for registering increases in international cargo tonnage shipped through their ports during the 2020 navigation season.

“Great Lakes ports and the St. Lawrence Seaway showcase the critical role that ports play in the global supply chain while providing jobs and economic growth here at home,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “That is why we must continue to invest in America’s ports. Through the American Jobs Plan, President Biden is calling for a $17 billion investment to improve our nation’s ports and waterways.”

The eight ports earning the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for 2020 are: the Port of Buffalo (N.Y.), the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor (Ind.), the Conneaut Port Authority (Ohio), the Lorain Port and Finance Authority (Ohio), Port Milwaukee (Wis.), the Port of Monroe (Mich.), the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority (N.Y.), and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (Ohio).

“Congratulations to the eight Great Lakes ports being recognized as Pacesetter Award recipients for their achievements during the 2020 Seaway navigation season,” said GLS Deputy Administrator Craig H. Middlebrook.  “The sustained level of high performance is a testament to the hard work of the dedicated men and women throughout our Great Lakes port community.”

The Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award was established in 1992 to recognize the achievements of U.S. ports whose activities resulted in increasing international tonnage shipped through the St. Lawrence Seaway, excluding Canada, in comparison to the previous year.