WILLMAR — Nexyst, in the next 60 days, plans to close on a $1.1 million purchase agreement for at least 137 acres in the Willmar Industrial Park to accommodate a $40 million project — constructing an agricultural distribution complex — according to Aaron Backman, executive director of the Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission.

“This is kind of an exciting development,” he said as he shared a site plan with Planning Commission members on Nov. 16.

The project would be an intermodal hub that would tie into the recently completed $48 million Willmar Wye railroad bypass project. An intermodal hub is a central location where cargo containers can be easily and quickly transferred between trucks and trains.

“This intermodal transportation complex would facilitate unit train loading; would facilitate transloading, bulk storage, trucking and other services,” Backman explained. “There is nothing quite like this in the area here; you would have to go down to Omaha or St. Paul or other locations farther afield.”

Read the full article by the West Central Tribune.