70 ILCS 1860/6

The District has power to apply for and accept grants, loans, or appropriations from the federal government, the State of Illinois, Madison or Jersey Counties, or any agency or instrumentality thereof to be used for any of the purposes of the District and to enter into any agreements with the federal, State, and county governments in relation to such grants, loans or appropriations.

The District may petition any federal, state, municipal, or local authority, administrative, judicial and legislative, having jurisdiction in the premises, for the adoption and execution of any physical improvement, change in method or system of handling freight, warehousing, docking, lightering, and transfer of freight, which in the opinion of the District is designed to improve or better the handling of commerce in and through the Port District or improve terminal or transportation facilities therein.