Ohio Rail Development Commission approves $75,000 grant to Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-Chief
Photo by William Beecher
On March 9, 2022, the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) approved a grant in the amount of $75,000 to assist Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc. expand the on-site rail infrastructure at the site of the company’s new facility located in Defiance.
Tessenderlo Kerley produces chemical solutions for agriculture and industrial use. The company serves the agriculture, mining and industrial markets with a broad range of products and technologies around the world. Tessenderlo Kerley plans to invest approximately $40 million in the new facility over the next three years and will employ 17 once the site is fully operational. The new plant, expected to open in the first quarter of 2024, will produce liquid sulfur-based crop nutrition brands Thio-Sul, KTS and K-row 23, as well as sulfite chemicals for industrial markets.
“Having the ability to serve our rail customers throughout the mid-Atlantic region of the United States is key to strengthening our sustainability goals by bringing us closer to our customers. We appreciate ORDC’s support towards developing the rail infrastructure we need to connect safe and reliable rail lines to our new plant in Defiance, Ohio.” Russell Sides, Executive Vice President, Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.
Matthew Dietrich, Executive Director, ORDC, said, “We are happy Tessenderlo Kerley chose Ohio for its newest facility. It is always our goal to assist companies who are making investments in the state. ORDC has partnered with the NDW railroad to improve the serving shortline railroad over the years. It’s those strategic investments that made this business opportunity possible.”
