The state of Illinois has released more than $3 million for the Cairo Port project.
The money comes from the state's Rebuild Illinois capital program, and will help pay for additional planning for the port in Alexander County.
This funding is just part of a $40 million pledge for the Alexander-Cairo Port District, which is still working its way through environmental feasibility studies and other federal requirements.
Though details have not yet been announced, supporters of the project say global and domestic companies have already pledged to bring operations to Cairo when the port becomes reality.
They say the location - at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and along major interstate and rail lines - is ideal for moving materials all over the Midwest and the rest of the country.
Leaders say the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois program will help maintain and expand the state's infrastructure for years to come.
