Federal grant to boost development at Cass County Agribusiness Park
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The federal Economic Development Administration has awarded a $1.8 million grant to Cass County that will be used for road infrastructure upgrades at the Cass County Agribusiness Park.
Economic Development Director Christy Householder says the work will make the road more accessible to truck traffic coming to and from the business park and create connections to State Roads 25 and 29.
County officials say the project, which is being matched with $1.4 million in local funds, will help create or retain more than 200 jobs and generate an estimated $68.5 million in private investment from businesses already located within the park.
Householder told Inside INdiana Business having a dedicated access road will make the agribusiness park more attractive to companies looking to relocate or expand.
“That will be huge for our community, and this park also has rail access, which is very rare to find,” Householder said. “Having sites have rail access are usually more sought out for a certain industry.”
In 2016, two sites in the agribusiness park received prime and gold certifications from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Since that time, Householder said both sites have been sold and developed, including Waelz Sustainable Products building a $110 million zinc recycling facility.
Last year, Ohio-based Redline Equipment detailed plans to invest over $7 million construct a new dealership and service center at the park, work for which is currently underway.
Householder said the road project will directly benefit both companies as they look toward further growth.
Cass County Commissioner Ruth Baker adds the project will also provide connections to the Logansport/Cass County Airport, which is located just off State Road 29.
Officials hope to put the project out for bids in January, with the goal of completion within 12-18 months.
“The Economic Development Administration is pleased to partner with Cass County through this strategic, place-based grant as it seeks to bring new opportunities to the region,” Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo, said in a news release. “We look forward to helping increase capacity at the Cass County Agribusiness Park and provide a much-needed boost to the regional economy.”
But the road project isn’t the only improvement being made at the agribusiness park. Householder said previous road projects have been completed, and the next major project is to improve water and sewer access throughout the park and the nearby town of Clymers.
The federal grant comes from the EDA’s Assistance to Coal Communities initiative, which awards funds to communities “severely impacted by the declining use of coal.”