ORDC Awards Two Grants for Siding Projects

Indiana Northeastern GP7u 2216 and GP7 1602 sit at the Edon Farmers CO-OP in Edon, OH in April 2013.

Image and caption courtesy of Napster9810 via Wikimedia Commons

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Rail Development Commission announced approval of grants to Indiana Northeastern Railroad and Kalmbach Feeds for siding projects.

Indiana Northeastern Railroad

The Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) approved a grant to award $375,000 to Indiana Northeastern Railroad (INE). The funds will go toward extending an existing siding located near the Eden Farmers Co-op, a unit train grain shipper, in Edon. In doing so, this allows for an increase in rail car capacity on the siding from 60 to 110 cars. This expansion will reportedly meet increased traffic demands.

“The new siding will ensure service to the Edon Farmers Co-Op while allowing the railroad to effectively serve existing customers and create an opportunity to attract new customers along the line. We are happy to support Indiana Northeastern in this effort,” said Matthew Dietrich, Executive Director, Ohio Rail Development Commission.

Andrew Hershman, Marketing & Sales, Indiana Northeastern Railroad, said “Edon Farmers Co-Op has been a long-valued customer for our railroad, and we are pleased to work with the State of Ohio to increase capacity, safety and accessibility for them as well as future rail customers. The investment will increase our ability to provide competitive, reliable service in an ever-changing transportation industry.”

Rail Spur at Kalmbach Feeds

The ORDC approved a $300,000 grant to Kalmbach Feeds, Inc., a company that manufactures “a variety of animal feeds and nutrition for livestock.” The funds will go toward installing a new rail spur at the feed mill near Upper Sandusky. According to the release, the project is estimated at $125 million.

“We are happy to partner with Kalmbach Feeds and support them in this endeavor.  The new siding will improve the company’s operations and allow for their continued growth in Ohio,” added ORDC Executive Director Dietrich.

“We’re grateful for our partnership with the Ohio Rail Development Commission in bringing this new industrial rail siding project to fruition,” said Kalmbach Feeds, Inc. President Paul Kalmbach, Jr. “This rail infrastructure upgrade significantly improves our ability to receive high-quality ingredients, enabling us to produce the premium feeds our customers expect with greater speed and reliability.”