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Railway eyes industrial sites in Rock, Nobles counties

Subhead
Study shows three or four top parcels for future development in Rock County
Lead Summary
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By
Mavis Fodness

A study recently identified 25 potential industrial sites along the Buffalo Ridge Regional Railroad with the best transportation connection to the railway.
Three of the top four properties along the 41-mile railway in Nobles and Rock counties are in Rock County.
Two are located near Luverne and two are located near Magnolia (one on the county line).
“They are ideal from a layout and topography perspective,” said Dan Kippley, economic development director with Ellis & Eastern Railroad, which operates the railway.
“They are flat, offer great connect ability with a siding, and have access to paved roads, offering access to Interstate 90 in equal distance in each direction.”
He presented the information in a joint meeting with commissioners in Rock and Nobles counties.
The top parcels will be studied further to determine conceptual layouts and cost estimates for development.
ISG Inc. of Sioux Falls began the study in January. Will Kraft, ISG transportation and practice group leader, said the study concentrated on properties within one mile of the railroad.
Each property was ranked according to size, slope, proximities to hard surface roads, electrical and natural gas lines, within a broadband area, and outside wind farm projects.
Also considered was whether or not parcels were located within a federal opportunity zone.
Businesses looking to expand often consider the same criteria.
“Very important to any rail service is slope,” Kraft said. “We wanted to make sure that we had flat slopes, especially for the rail itself. As you know, rails require pretty flat slopes — they cannot do uphill or downhill well.”
Landowners whose property scored high based on the criteria were informed about the study; however, it doesn’t mean that any of the parcels would ever be developed.
“They (all the sites) would be revisited if the opportunity arises,” Kippley said.
The completed study was sent to the Minnesota Department of Economic Development (DEED), Southwest Regional Development Commission (SWRCD) and the economic development departments at the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroads that the BRRR connects.
Identifying the best parcels along the railroad puts the BRRR ahead of any requests for information.
“This is a report that will put you one step ahead of the rest when applications come out for businesses looking in this area to expand,” said Robin Weis, SWRCD deputy director.
“Rail is often identified as one of those specifics.”
Applications often have a short response period.
“I may be receiving it today but it is due next Friday. That is how quickly they are looking for a response,” Weis said.
The study took six months to complete at a cost of $7,500, which was paid for by the local rail authority.
Commissioners in Rock and Nobles counties formed a rail authority in 1987 to oversee the Buffalo Ridge Railroad.
The railway was leased to the Ellis & Eastern Railroad in 2017 and is currently undergoing a $14.4 million federal grant to upgrade the 41-mile railway.

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