RR Warehousing Project

ODON, IND. (WTHI) -      A small southern Indiana community goes to work to try and land a major economic development project.

Earlier this year Indiana Railroad announced a plan to build a major project in an empty industrial park in Odon.

     Some of the final pieces are going into place to make the project a reality.

     After sitting idle for years, construction vehicles have moved onto the 10 acre Odon Industrial Park.

     The crews are busy working on lines to the town's sewer plant.

     It's part of a project the town has approved to try and land a proposed $1.2 million  project by Indiana Railroad.

     "There's a lot of moving pieces and it all costs money," said Ron Arnold with the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation, "and again you have to sit down and say, ok on this type of investment that will probably be a little over a million dollar on Indiana Rail's part, what can we do to help with the infrastructure, so we're putting those pieces together."

     Those pieces should come together soon and when they do the town anticipates the railroad will put in a new siding with warehouse and loading facilities.

     The project will tie the rail line closely with trucking companies that will be able to quickly move freight up and down I69 just 5 miles down the road.

     "On this project this is the main driver," said Arnold, "because of I 69 they're looking at how they can most efficiently move product in and out for business."

     There's an old saying in the real estate business that a deal isn't done until the check clears the bank and the paperwork is exchanged, but it's obvious by what is going on in the industrial park that there is plenty of optimism that this project is going to happen.

     "We're very happy and we're excited about it that something is happening in town," said Richard Cottrell with the Daviess County Economic Development Foundation.

     Something that local officials believe won't just bring new jobs to this location, but will also serve as a catalyst for even more industry and jobs in this area in the future.

     Officials say they believe the project will be finalized in a matter of weeks.