Promoting the interests of port districts, authorities, and commissions along the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway by means of public advocacy; Promoting the interests of users and operators of locks and dams along the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway by means of public advocacy; Advisory services, namely, providing public and private entities with business and technical assistance in the fields of obtaining grants and loans to support growth and delivery of water-related transportation industry growth projects; Promotion and development of public and private campaigns for capital investment in port facilities and port-related multi-modal transportation and natural infrastructure projects along the Upper Mississippi River (Marine Highway 35) and Illinois Waterway (part of Marine Highway 55).; Promoting economic development within the modern, sustainable, rural, regional, multi-modal, inland ports along the Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway