City OKs $38,000 payment toward BNSF Railway certification of 335 acres in Willmar Industrial Park

City OKs $38,000 payment toward BNSF Railway certification of 335 acres in Willmar Industrial Park

May 21, 2023

City OKs $38,000 payment toward BNSF Railway certification of 335 acres in Willmar Industrial Park

City OKs $38,000 payment toward BNSF Railway certification of 335 acres in Willmar Industrial Park

The Willmar City Council has OK’d payment for services related to BNSF Railway certification, which designates rail-served sites as meeting the rail company’s readiness standards for development.

WILLMAR — The local economic development director hopes to complete the BNSF Railway certification of 335 acres in the Willmar Industrial Park in six months instead of a year.

The Willmar City Council this week approved payment of $38,021 in associated costs with becoming a BNSF Railway certified site. The acreage includes the site of the Midwest & Bluegrass Rail development planned on 145 acres.

Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission.

 “This (certification) process usually takes about one year to complete with BNSF. I want to get it done in six months, and I want to get it done this summer,” said Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission, speaking at Monday’s council meeting. “I think it is doable. I’d have to push a few people, but I think I would like to finish at a faster clip.”

Read the full article from the West Central Tribune here

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