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OHIO RAIL

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                              Contact: Stu Nicholson

Date: October 4, 2004                                                                             (614)644-0513 

 

ORDC Brings $$$ for Clyde Rail Spur

$75,000 Grant for Whirlpool Corp. Plant Helps Retain Jobs

 

(Columbus) – A new rail spur that will help generate over 1,000 carloads of products and help retain over 3,000 jobs will get a funding boost from the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC).  The $75,000 dollar grant, in combination with funding from Whirlpool Corporation and labor from Norfolk Southern Railroad will enable construction of a 1,600 foot rail spur.  In addition, the overall project includes an enclosed rail loading dock and helps Whirlpool increase its productivity, while reducing its transportation costs.

 

Another benefit to the community will be the elimination of an estimated 3,000 truckload movements on area roads and highways.

 

Whirlpool’s Clyde facility is the largest washing machine manufacturing facility in the world.  Much of what it produces currently is shipped to and sold in Mexico.  Not only will this rail spur project better facilitate the shipment of washing machines, but it will also ease the movement of other products to and from Clyde and Whirlpools other facilities here in the United States and in Mexico.  Total cost for the project is $252,600 dollars.

 

“Whirlpool is the eighth largest manufacturing employer in Ohio”, says ORDC Executive Director Jim Seney.  “We are glad to play a significant role in helping Whirlpool not only do more business, but to help keep over 3,000 Ohioans working in good jobs.”

 

(The Ohio Rail Development Commission is an independent agency operating within the Ohio Department of Transportation.  ORDC is responsible for economic development through the improvement and expansion of passenger and freight rail service, railroad grade crossing safety and rail travel & tourism issues. For more information about what ORDC does for Ohio, visit our website at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/ohiorail/