Federal grant to nearly double barge loading speed at Red Wing Grain

Red Wing Grain will replace its aging Mississippi River barge loadout with help from a $10.2 million federal port grant. The company’s general manager said the work keeps an export route open for the more than 1,200 Minnesota and Wisconsin farmers who sell grain there. The $10,161,985 award comes from the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, with the money going to the city of Red Wing and Red Wing Grain LLC to rebuild the barge loading system, conveyors, electric winch and dust collection systems at the Port of Red Wing, according to U.S. Rep. Angie Craig's office. Jim Larson, general manager of Red Wing Grain, said the plant turns 71 this fall. Some of its parts are 40 to 70 years old. “We’ve done a lot of upgrades through the last 25 years,” Larson said.

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