As journalists at WGIL, we’re here to tackle your questions about Galesburg. Send us your questions, and we’ll get to the heart of the story.
Question: I haven’t heard anything about it in a while—Is The DeLong Co. still building the intermodal agricultural export facility at the Galesburg Business Park, or is it stalled by tariffs? — Mike M.
Answer: Yes, Mike, the DeLong Co. intermodal agricultural export facility at the Galesburg Business Park is still moving forward, according to Galesburg City Manager Eric Hanson.
In January 2025, WGIL reported that the City of Galesburg received a $25 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Program. The funds will support installing rail track and switching at the 329-acre, city-owned Business Park to enable construction of a large containerized agricultural terminal. The DeLong Co., Inc., a sixth-generation, family-owned business based in Clinton, Wisconsin, will develop the 100-acre facility to load regionally produced agricultural commodities into rail containers for export via BNSF Railway to West Coast ports. The $54 million project, with 46% federal funding and the rest from DeLong Co., aims to enhance Galesburg’s rail infrastructure and attract new businesses.
During his Monday appearance on Galesburg’s Morning News, Hanson addressed Mike’s question, noting the project’s large scale and long timeline.
“You’re talking about tying into BNSF and 15,000 or 16,000 linear feet of track and lots of other infrastructure,” Hanson said. “So we’re talking at least the 2026 or 2027 timeframe.”
The grant extends from 2025 to 2029, reflecting the project’s complexity.
There’s no indication that tariffs are stalling progress, as the project remains on track with its funding and planning.
Do you have a followup to this topic, or do you have another question about something happening around Galesburg? Email Jay Redfern at jayr@wgil.com.
