The City of Galesburg has been awarded a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation from the “Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity” (RAISE) Program.
Funds will be utilized to install rail track and switching at the Galesburg Business Park property in support of the construction of a large containerized agricultural terminal on the site. When the project is completed, regionally-produced agricultural commodities will be loaded into rail containers onsite and then shipped overland via BNSF rail to west coast ports for export.
The DeLong Co., Inc. will construct an intermodal agricultural export facility on the site, which will occupy approximately 100 acres of the 329-acre, City-owned site. The DeLong Co. is a 6th generation, family-owned business that is headquartered in Clinton, WI. The company operates 37 locations around the U.S. and comprises six divisions of agricultural and logistical sales and services: grain, exports, agronomy, seed, transportation and wholesale feed.
“The DeLong Co. is excited to work hand-in-hand with the family farms and the Galesburg community on this important project. We are committed to being good neighbors, fostering strong relationships, and contributing to the growth and success of the region. This new facility represents an opportunity to build lasting partnerships and support the area’s agricultural producers in reaching global markets,” said Chris DeLong, President, The DeLong Co., Inc.
Galesburg’s RAISE application was supported by Congressman Sorensen, Congressman LaHood as well as Senators Durbin and Duckworth. BNSF Railway, the Illinois Dept. of Transportation, State Senator Halpin, State Representative Dan Swanson, the Knox County Farm Bureau and the Illinois Dept. of Commerce and Economic Opportunity all provided additional assistance and advisement throughout the project.
The grant will be part of an overall $54 million dollar investment in the Galesburg Business Park (formerly called Logistics Park), with federal funds comprising 46% of the cost and private funds from the DeLong Co. comprising the remaining portion. The installation of rail and switching into the park not only makes the creation of this intermodal facility possible but will also enhance the chances for city and economic development officials to bring additional companies into Galesburg Business Park in the future.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Galesburg, which would not be possible without the leadership on this project from Ken Springer and the staff at KCAP, as well as investment in our community from the RAISE Grant and The DeLong Co.,” said Eric Hanson, City Manager. “We are extremely grateful for the support of our legislators in making this project possible and are excited to finally see opportunities in the Galesburg Business Park expand through additional investment in strong rail infrastructure.”
The DeLong Co. project will have a significant positive impact on the region’s ag community by opening a new export market for commodities to Asia. This new overland rail shipping route reduces cargo transit by approximately 4,000 miles when compared to using the Mississippi River and Port of New Orleans to ship commodities westward.
“KCAP is proud to bring forward the first significant project for the City’s Galesburg Business Park property. Knox County’s rail assets are a key advantage for our area and building additional investment using these assets has been a longtime goal of our organization. I want to publicly thank our legislators, the City team and the many other folks who helped move this project forward,” said Ken Springer, Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development.
City officials say “the major win for Galesburg” comes on the heels of a successful last year, which saw increased economic growth, including three development agreements for new projects and expansions within the City. This project is expected to move forward with design work in 2025, with anticipated project construction within two years.
Additional Information:
https://www.delongcompany.com/
https://www.transportation.gov/RAISEgrants
