Genesee & Wyoming’s latest U.S. industrial development results signal industrial growth across industries and geographies

Genesee & Wyoming Inc. announced its latest industrial development results – with 44 projects accounting for more than $1 billion in customer investments in 16 states. The projects are expected to generate more than 700 jobs in communities along G&W’s U.S. freight railroads and add more than 82,000 carloads to the rail industry.

“Industrial development projects are a key component of our growth strategy,” says G&W CEO Michael Miller, “and whether customers are constructing new plants, expanding existing facilities or even re-opening shuttered sites, the recent projects along our footprint demonstrate that they view rail transportation as critical to their success. Customers recognize the safety, efficiency and economic benefits of using rail to transport their raw materials or finished goods, and they trust G&W railroads to meet their needs and grow alongside them.”

While the lion’s share of projects was in the agriculture, chemical and minerals & stone sectors, the company’s railroads assisted in bringing projects to fruition across a wide array of industries, including auto, food and lumber.

Among the highlights are new facilities for soybean processor and biodiesel manufacturer Incobrasa Industries in Illinois, aggregate construction materials company BURNCO in Texas, and grain and feed byproduct merchant Penny Newman Grain in Georgia, as well as an expansion for soybean processor Ag Processing Inc. (AGP) in Washington.

“Incobrasa Industries’ $400 million expansion represents a bold commitment to innovation and sustainability in the agricultural and energy sectors,” says Aluizio Ribeiro, the company’s CEO. “G&W’s Toledo, Peoria & Western Railway and Illinois & Midland Railroad are integral to this growth, providing the critical infrastructure to move more product efficiently and connect global markets. This partnership exemplifies how strategic investments in rail unlocks economic opportunity and strengthens supply chains for decades to come.”

“We greatly valued the opportunity to collaborate with G&W’s Dallas, Garland & Northeastern Railroad on the development of our new facility in Trenton, Texas,” says Tom

Zais, BURNCO CEO. “Both of our organizations share similar attributes of professionalism, industry expertise and commitment to operational excellence. This new location represents another growth milestone in our rich 113-year history and will play a significant role in supporting our strategic plan in the region.”

“G&W’s Georgia Southwestern Railroad has been a great partner to Penny Newman Grain throughout the development of our new cottonseed unit train facility in Bainbridge, Georgia,” says Todd Parker, director of cottonseed merchandising for Penny Newman Grain. “Their professionalism, reliability and commitment to supporting our logistical needs made this project a success from start to finish.”

Leonard Barnes, executive director of the Port of Grays Harbor, which handles export soybean meal from AGP, notes, “This is a transformative time at the Port and the $200+ million terminal expansion we’re undertaking will significantly enhance AGP's export capabilities and add capacity to support auto shipments. We deeply value our partnership with G&W and its Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad. They make it easy to do business, and their collaboration is instrumental in delivering improvements.”

Several projects, including one along G&W’s Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad in Oregon, also involved the establishment of rail-to-truck transloading sites, an increasingly growing way for bulk commodity shippers to take advantage of rail economics for first- and last-mile delivery while using truck for longer-haul portions of their transportation.

G&W provides current and prospective customers a database of over 700 industrial development parks and sites along the company’s railroads. It can be accessed at gwrr.com/id.