Another Step Taken Toward Development of Rail-Served Industrial Park

Pulaski County CourthousePulaski County’s goal of developing a rail-served industrial park has taken another step forward.

In the last week or so, the owners of the preferred property for the site have given the go ahead to begin work on the project. Pulaski County is currently lacking rail infrastructure to attract and retain major manufacturing business.

Pulaski County CDC Executive Director Nathan Origer says next on the list for the CDC is meeting with representatives of the Kankakee Iroquois Regional Planning Commission.

“Knowing what the expectations the federal government has for appraisals and that sort of thing,” says Origer.

Origer says that he hopes to familiarize himself with the steps necessary before applying for federal funding to help with the industrial economic development project.

Origer says researching will help matters.

“Figure out the order in which we need to do things so that when the time comes to apply for federal assistance on developing this, we do it right,” says Origer.

Right now, the objective is to follow the order for obtaining an appraisal of the preferred property. Once that has been completed, an offer can be made to the owners to acquire the property – funds the CDC has already budgeted.

That will give the CDC time to assemble a proper grant application.

If federal grant funds are approved, Pulaski County could see a major undertaking for its rail-served industrial park on the west side.