The next steps are ready to be taken with the development of Pulaski County’s proposed rail-served industrial park on the west side.
During a Friday afternoon Advisory Commission on Industrial Development meeting, it was proposed to raise the price ceiling to purchase land at the site near Medaryville for future development. That price ceiling increase recommendation still has a few steps before approval.
CDC Executive Director Nathan Origer says the board will require a letter of commitment from the land owner prior to buying the land.
“I think we are good with the amount of money and now it’s a matter of getting the county commissioners to accept/ratify the industrial park board’s recommendation and seeing if we can incur enough revenue selling the county farmland to meet the price that I think we’ll agree upon with the landowner,” says Origer.
That farmland will be split with a section intended for sale. Without a sale, the CDC does have back-up plans to utilize county CEDIT funds to supplement the purchase if necessary. The county also has back-up land that may be less expensive to purchase should those plans also fall through.
This entire process leads up to a federal grant application that can help fund the development of an industrial park for economic development in Pulaski County. Origer says he thinks there will be interest from prospective buyers.
“I think, you know, the way farmland has been trending, there’s a little bit of a question mark there,” says Origer. “But I think things are still strong enough that we might be able to make this happen.”
The Advisory Commission on Industrial Development gave the go ahead for the increase in price ceiling on Friday. The County Commissioners will consider the proposal during their meeting Monday night.
Pricing for the land has not been announced, but Origer says it should be made public should a deal be struck.
