Raymond D. White, P.E., DEE, Senior Vice President of Garver Engineers, has prepared design and preliminary plans for grain-handling and all-purpose terminals for the Meade County Riverport Authority Commissioners. The plans involve three engineering firms that have been identified to work together with the Riverport Authority to develop a project scope and the site plan. Two are Kentucky firms, Tim Smith Engineering, of Brandenburg, and B.L.N. Engineering, of Louisville. The third is Garver Engineering, a maritime firm of Nashville, Tennessee.

Initially, the riverport will have a grain elevator and stevedoring services. Don Bewley, Chairman of the Meade County Riverport Authority, said "our vision for the port facility is focused on becoming an agriculture distribution center, as well as providing light industrial operations and services for industries south of Meade County and in Central Kentucky". Bewley added, "Immediate benefits of the port will come in providing cost savings to farmers located in Hardin, Breckinridge, Meade, Larue and Hancock counties, by providing an easier access to a grain elevator."

Bewley also stated, "There is strong regional interest for the port, and we have received inquiries from industrial prospects wanting to use the river transportation system". The Hardin County Industrial Foundation and West Kentucky Development Corporation have indicated that waterway transport availability will add to their economic development plans. It will also support grain origination for a proposed 40 million gallon ethanol plant, which will be located near the riverport. Over 15 million bushels of corn will pass through the riverport, as well as over 80% of the ethanol will be loaded onto barges for transport to the marketplace.

Strategically located, the Meade County Riverport is at the center of a port and waterways system that offers globally competitive, inexpensive year-round freight transport for bulk materials and containerized freight. At the hub of the nation's inland waterways, the Meade County Riverport terminal will provide direct access to the agricultural markets of the Midwestern and North Central States, to the industrial and consumer markets of the Northeast, to New Orleans, Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico for distribution to the South.

The port will be enhanced by a well-developed terminal offering modern trans-loading equipment, safe docking, berths, extensive storage, warehousing and competitive access to rail and highway corridors. Consolidated Grain and Barge (CG&B) will operate the facility. CG&B was recently awarded the contract to provide grain and cargo handling at the site. Located between Interstates 64 and 65, the facility is within a 8 to 9 hour drive time of two-thirds of the nations population. Further advantages come with the region becoming a multi-modal transportation hub. With CSX rail availability, the UPS Distribution Center and the Louisville International Airport 40 minutes away, the port will have access to all north, south, east, and west markets.