CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A $600,000 state grant will help pay for an access road to a planned RJ Corman transload site at the railyard in the Industrial Park, providing “last mile” access for companies relying on train delivery for their products.
State Sen. Bill Powers of Clarksville on Tuesday announced the site development grant, being administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD).
“I am thrilled to announce that ECD is granting $600,000 to the Industrial Park,” Powers said in a news release. “This funding will assist in road construction to access the site, among other things. Thank you to ECD and all the local officials who put this together.”
The railyard site was built for Hemlock Semiconductor. It was abandoned when they closed, and RJ Corman has taken over operations.
“With this grant, we are enhancing our Industrial Park by adding another coveted feature alongside our childcare center, solidifying Clarksville’s position as the premier industrial park in the state and region,” said Buck Dellinger, president and CEO of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Economic Development Council, in comments to Clarksville Now. “We are thankful to the county, city and legislative body for their support in helping us provide valuable incentives to attract and retain top industries.”
Once fully operational, the transload site could take 2,000 to 3,000 semi-trucks off of Interstate 24 every month, reducing traffic congestion and improving safety, said Josh Ward, vice president of the Industrial Development Board. “Transload is revolutionizing the way industrial materials are transported — shifting from road to rail for a smarter, more sustainable solution,” he told Clarksville Now.
The road will cost a total of $1.2 million, with $600,000 coming from the state and the other $600,000 coming from the sale of another site at the industrial park, Ward said.
“This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the unanimous support of all nine IDB members and our outstanding partnership with RJ Corman, whose collaboration has been instrumental in making this vision a reality,” Ward said. “Together, we’re paving the way for a more efficient and environmentally friendly future.”
The Site Development Grant program is part of the Rural Economic Opportunity Act, which provides funding to improve the economies of Tennessee’s rural communities. Since 2016, TNECD has awarded 191 Site Development Grants across the state, totaling nearly $100 million in assistance to local communities and generating 7,091 new jobs for Tennesseans.
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