TELL CITY – In efforts to drive potential business endeavors in Perry and Spencer counties, The Perry County Port Authority recently announced new initiatives with a Texas-based company.
Port president Alvin Evans said Tuesday that a new two-year partnership with TNW logistics Services Inc. would bolster economic developments along Hoosier Southern Railroad lines, which spans 22 miles between Cannelton and Lincoln City. The Port Authority Board of Directors singed into an economic services agreement with the company, which will allow TNW to market locations to prospective businesses.
Under the agreement, TNW will seek project proposals and work with the Port Authority and Hoosier Southern on creating terms of rail use with the interested parties. The document outlines that TNW will “be responsible for the payment of any and all expenses it incurs providing the services.”
According to TNW Corp.’s website, the company has been “a leader in the short line railroad industry” for more than three decades and is committed to the “growth and success of the businesses” it serves.
Having toured the San Antonio-area facilities, board chairman Bill Goffinet said “those were productive meetings” and “we got a pretty good idea of what they do.
The resulting agreement with the port, Evans said, “gives them the right to develop economic development activities along the railroad, and we will work with them in doing so.” Though he added there are “overtures for operating the railroad” after a year, it doesn’t allow TNW to purchase any railroad-owned properties.
Bolstering the benefit of the contract, Goffinet added that the terms provide a great opportunity to “enhance our business” at no cost to the community. “We’ve done similar type things in the past with our customers,” he continued.
Spearheaded largely by Evans and Goffinet, plans are in the works that would bring TNW representatives to Perry County to meet with the entirety of the board.
Such a face-to-face session has not yet been announced.
Another announcement that piqued much interest from the board is that Jasper and Huntingburg officials may want to couple their rail services to tie into Perry County Port operations. Evans said the topic was discussed at a recent Conexus Southwest meeting.
While formal talks on the issue have not yet materialized with Tell City leaders, Evans said interest appears to be high in “those cities bringing their business to the Tell City riverport.”
According to port operations manager Kevin Teague, the “move could be made now” with few upgrades, though it would require some enhanced logistics and further discussions about user rates for the line traffic.
While official word has not been levied, Goffinet said the “opportunity is there” though it’s “exploration at this point.”
Discussions to couple the cities’ rail services are expected to continue.