Federal funding may soon help expand rail access to section of Garner, Iowa, to include Zinpro manufacturing facility.

July 27, 2018

3 Min Read
Zinpro manufacturing facility may get rail access

The city of Garner, Iowa, and its businesses and community may soon benefit from grant money to expand rail freight access, according to an announcement from Zinpro Corp., which operates a manufacturing facility in Garner.

Earlier this month, the Iowa Transportation Commission approved more than $2.5 million in federal grant dollars to be used for five transportation infrastructure projects under the Linking Iowa’s Freight Transportation System (LIFTS) program, and the Garner Industry Track proposal was one of the approved projects, pending Federal Highway Administration authorization, Zinpro said.

“Zinpro Corporation and our employees are very excited and grateful for this grant approval that could soon make it possible for our company -- and others -- to have access to a rail freight line,” Zinpro president and chief executive officer Bill Scrimgeour said. “Our manufacturing facility in Garner has been producing valuable animal nutrition products since December 1992, relying on trucking alone to bring in ingredients and ship out finished products. Having rail access will enable us to have a safer, less expensive and more sustainable option to bring in and ship out materials.”

The city of Garner is also pleased with this encouraging development. “Zinpro has been a positive, stable, people- and community-focused employer since its establishment here,” Garner city administrator Randy Lansing said. “Zinpro continues to grow and provide greater employment for our community, and this rail line access will help accommodate their growth as well as appeal to other businesses that might decide to locate here because of this development.”

Lansing pointed out that the expansion is still dependent on Zinpro and the Iowa Northern Railway Co. being able to obtain the necessary land and to keep all costs comparable with what was assumed in the grant application. This grant will cover only a portion of the total cost to expand rail access to this location, and Zinpro will still be required to spend a considerable amount of its own money on equipment and infrastructure to bring this project to complete fruition, the announcement said.

Similar LIFTS program grants in other communities have proved to be a viable return on investment, Iowa Northern Railway director Amy Homan noted. “Freight rail access has been shown to reduce wear and tear on roadways, increase road safety and provide solid economic benefits to cities and communities that invest in adequate freight rail infrastructure,” she said. “Freight rail access helps cities and communities both attract future companies and allows current companies to grow and reinvest in their local communities.”

Homan added that Iowa Northern appreciates the continued efforts of Garner, Hancock County Economic Development and Zinpro “in pushing the Garner Industry Track one step closer to becoming a reality. The communities of Garner and Hancock County continue to show their support of Iowa Northern, and we are excited to be a part of their growth. This project is a classic example of how bringing the public and private sectors together can benefit the entire community.”

As an industry leader in trace mineral nutrition for livestock, poultry and aquaculture, Zinpro is committed to delivering the people, products and educational tools needed to help customers improve the performance and profitability of their operations.

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