Leipsic, Ohio, receives grant to develop industrial park
Written by jrood
February 14, 2001 The Village of Leipsic, Ohio, was awarded a $3.5-million grant to assist in developing its 244-acre industrial site served by three railroads, the Putnam County Sentinel reports. At a Leipsic Council meeting, Leipsic Mayor Kevin Benton and village administrator Kevin Lammon informed council members that the village has been selected to receive this grant.
The Ohio Department of
Development is prepared to demonstrate its support for the Iron Highway
Industrial Site Job Ready Site (JRS) project with its preliminary commitment of
assistance, valued up to $3.5 million from the Ohio Job Ready Site Program.
Leipsic
will first have to contribute approximately $700,000 as its match.
With the
grant, the village will acquire 244 acres that are currently under contract and
make improvements to the project site. Improvements to the site include an
extension of the village’s process water line to the site, extension of two gas
lines and installation of a switch to connect the I & O Railway’s track to
the Village of Leipsic, according to a summary of incentives from the Ohio
Department of Development.
"We’ll have
everything that needs to be there," said Lammon. "This funding will
help us connect our short rail to the I & O Railroad. The biggest advantage
we’ll have is the access to three railroads."
He added that this site
is highly attractive to industries that produce heavy or large amounts of
product, such as grain or metal.
"This JRS Grant gives
us the chance to do what we can’t do on our own," said Lammon. "We
don’t have an extra $3.5 million laying around to create a site like this. It
will really help establish the Village of Leipsic economically for years to
come."
