In this episode of Galesburg’s Morning News, Ken Springer, President of Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development, joined WGIL’s Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm to discuss the big news of Galesburg being awarded a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the “Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity” (RAISE) Program. The funds will be used to install essential rail track and switching at the Galesburg Business Park, paving the way for a large containerized agricultural terminal that will facilitate the loading and shipping of regionally-produced agricultural commodities to west coast ports.
Springer shares insights on the project's location, the preparations needed for the site, and the collaboration with BNSF’s Business Development Team to achieve shovel-ready certification. The conversation also delves into the significant impact this project will have on Galesburg, Knox County, and the broader region beyond just job creation and capital investment.