County Leaders Show They ‘Get Things Done’
(Image provided by the Daviess County Economic Development Corp.)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA signature piece of a $10 million property focused on economic development will officially open Tuesday in Washington. The new railroad cross-dock facility is connected to a new $8 million shell building near the I-69/U.S. 50 interchange. Daviess County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Ron Arnold says it has attracted interest from businesses that could locate or expand there.
Officials first detailed plans for the 23-acre property in August of last year. In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Arnold says the project demonstrates that "Daviess County knows how to work together and get things done." Both buildings were developed by Terre Haute-based Garmong Construction Services Inc.
The cross-dock facility represents the first rail expansion in the county in decades. Arnold says it was born out of Grain Processing Corp.’s need to load its shipments in Daviess County and not have to haul it to Evansville. He says in addition to GPC, which announced $70 million expansion plans in 2014, companies such as Graber Post Buildings Inc. and K&K Industries Inc. in Montgomery, Cannelburg-based Daviess County Metal Sales and Olon Industries Inc. in Washington will use the operation to boost mobility of their products and materials in and out of the region.
Alliance Barrier Films is also expected to benefit from the newly-open facilities. The company was among several economic development projects officials have pointed toward as evidence for growth that has been spurred by the I-69 expansion. Arnold says development inquiries involving locations or expansions along the massive corridor have "ramped up" since the Crane-Bloomington section opened last December. The land and thousands of acres around it have been annexed by the city of Washington and Arnold says it’s ripe for development, being located along the only intersection between Indianapolis and Evansville where major east-west and north south roads cross. "I think we’re just seeing the beginning of what will be some very good times ahead for the cities of Daviess County."
The 18,000 square-foot cross-dock facility will connect companies using semi-trailers or rail cars to the CSX rail line. The adjoining shell building is 40,000 square-feet and is designed for potential expansion.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Daviess County Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Ron Arnold says the project demonstrates that “Daviess County knows how to work together and get things done.”