Starke County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Charles Weaver recently discussed the county’s strategy to expand rail access in Starke County during the recent Society of Innovators’ “Pride and Pedestal” event in Hammond.
Weaver explained that the cooperative effort between the Starke County Economic Development Foundation, City of Knox, Starke County officials, Knox Civic Development Corporation, and Territorial Engineering helped shape industry and economic development in the Knox area.
Weaver talked about the lead rail track project, which has been recognized by the Economic Development Administration as a national award-winning project. The original one-mile lead track to the Knox Industrial Park has been extended to three miles since its inception eight years ago, and has generated $30 million in new investment and 300 new jobs. This track is the only lead rail track and cross-dock facility on the Norfolk Southern rail system, and the only such project in the entire state.
The Pride and Pedestal event is held every two years, and the Starke County presentation was only one of ten projects highlighted during this event that focuses on innovative projects in Northwest Indiana.
