September 17, 2013
This story was written by Dawn Kurry, with the Richmond County Daily Journal.
Richmond County Board of Commissioners Chairman Kenneth Robinette announced Tuesday the plans for CSX to locate an additional facility in Hamlet.
The new facility will be used to design and build railroad turnouts for CSX across its system. Turnouts are mechanical installations enabling trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at a railway junction or where a spur or siding branches off.
The transportation company intends to invest approximately $8 million in this new, 45,000-square-foot facility as well as a 3,000-square-foot section of new office space, both to be located on its Sheppard Road property. Approximately 15 new jobs will also be created for this development, the company said.
“We are very excited about this expansion in Richmond County,” said John Dillard, CSX Resident Vice President of State Government & Community Affairs. “We look forward to continuing our long-standing relationship with the community.”
“CSX has been a part of Richmond County’s industrial history since 1954,” said Robinette. “It is good news that they have decided to locate this additional facility here. CSX is a great corporate partner with Richmond County and very integral part of our community. The county commissioners thank them for their continued investment in Richmond County.”
County Commissioner and CSX employee Ben Moss said he is excited to share the news.
“As a county commissioner and long-time CSX employee, it is very exciting to be a part of this announcement,” said Moss. “Expansion of our existing industries is critical to our long term economic stability and growth and this is great news for Richmond County. We look forward to continued growth of one of our cornerstone industries.”
CSX carries a variety of commodities important to the economy and way of life, including consumer products, automobiles, food and agriculture products, coal and chemicals. Products shipped in North Carolina include containerized consumer goods, feed grain, aggregates and iron scrap, according to CSX officials.
In 2012, CSX invested more than $63.5 million in its North Carolina network. The company also employs more than 1,000 people in the state. In addition to Hamlet, there is also a major rail yard in Rocky Mount, an Intermodal terminal in Charlotte as well as two TRANSFLO terminals in Charlotte, and facilities in Raleigh, Wilmington and Winston-Salem
