Rail Connect Business Park
EDC event celebrates opening of shovel ready industrial park & welcomes steel distributor
COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (September 27, 2011) – Leaders from Whitley County and Northeast Indiana gathered today to celebrate the completion of Rail Connect Business Park (Rail Connect) and to welcome Triad Metals International (Triad) to Whitley County at an event hosted by the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
“Today we recognized the partnership among local, regional, and state leaders that has developed over the past 18 months to bring these projects together,” said EDC president Alan Tio, “Our entire team looks forward to working with Triad Metals and continuing to attract new companies to Rail Connect Business Park.”
Triad Metals International, a distributor of structural steel, selected the “Certified Site Ready” Rail Connect Business Park location for its 170,000 square-foot distribution center. Triad distributes Wide Flange Beams, mini mill hot rolled shapes, hot rolled tubing and pipe for construction, OEM’s and energy related projects. Materials are cut to size, cambered and split into T’s on state of the art processing equipment. Triad anticipates investing more than $10 million in the project, which is anticipated to create up to 35 new jobs by 2013.
“I have enjoyed working with Whitley County’s economic development team throughout this project” said President and CEO of Triad Metals International, Ron Hammond, “Most importantly, I am pleased that our Indiana facility is now operational and that we are adding new products and capabilities.”
Rail Connect Business Park is a publicly controlled, rail-served business park located near four-lane US Highway 30 in Whitley County. The 110 acre, master planned industrial park has achieved “Certified Site Ready” status through the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s (NEIRP) site certification program. Rail Connect is located in one of two Tax Increment Finance areas administered by the Whitley County Redevelopment Commission (Redevelopment Commission) in the US 30 Industrial Corridor.
“The Redevelopment Commission continues to seek opportunities to invest in infrastructure projects that encourage new investment and jobs in our community,” said Redevelopment Commission Chairman Bill Overdeer, “Whitley County has a 20 year track record as a progressive community that works to support our existing industries and to welcome new businesses like Triad Metals.”
“Through our ongoing economic development efforts, Whitley County has seen more than 1,100 new jobs committed since 2008,” said State Representative Kathy Heuer (R-83), “As an EDC board member, it is gratifying to see today how the work of our organization can produce such positive impacts on our community.”
“It became clear early in our work at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership that we would need to build our region’s capacity to support additional business growth,” said President & CEO John Sampson, “With shovel ready industrial parks like Rail Connect and workforce development efforts like the Talent Initiative, we are in a much stronger position to compete globally.”
About Whitley County EDC
The Whitley County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is the lead economic development agency in Whitley County, Indiana. The EDC works closely with local, regional, and state partners to support our industry clients' growth and success. Our mission is to implement a unified economic development effort and to expand employment and business opportunities for the benefit of the people of Whitley County by developing and maintaining cooperation of all individuals, groups, and organizations within the county. The Whitley County EDC was established in 1992 and represents Whitley County, Columbia City, and the Towns of Churubusco, Larwill, and South Whitley. For more information about the EDC, visit www.whitleyedc.com.
About Triad Metals International
Triad Metals International is one of the largest structural steel, tubing and mini mill distributors east of the Mississippi River. The company’s wholesale distribution centers are located in Pittsburgh and Horsham, Pennsylvania, and Petersburg, Virginia. For more information visit: http://www.triadmetals.com/
-30-
Media Contacts:
Alan Tio (Whitley County EDC) – 260.244.5506 or atio@whitleyedc.com
Ronald J. Hammond (Triad Metals) – 412.331.7772 or ron.hammond@triadmetals.com
Bill Overdeer (Redevelopment Commission) – 260.609.5211
Kathy Heuer (State of Indiana) – 260. 609.2802
John Sampson (NEIRP) – 260.469.3471 or john@neirp.com
Download a copy of this release