Elko County, in northeastern Nevada, will soon be the home of the largest multimodal transloading facility in the state. What started as just a concept more than a year-and-a-half ago has quickly become a reality. On May 18, 2006 the Elko County Commissioners closed a deal with the owners of Ellison Ranch, an 840-acre ranch six miles east of the City of Elko. A celebratory groundbreaking will take place at the site on Friday, June 23, 2006.
Northeastern Nevada is known for its wide-open spaces, beautiful mountain ranges, high desert environment and large gold mines. As the third largest gold producing area in the world, the region benefits from good paying jobs and a healthy economy, but diversification of the local economy is essential for the area if it is to prosper long into the future. The City of Elko is Nevada’s top micropolis and serves as the shopping and service hub for many rural communities.
The area’s economic development organization, Elko County Economic Diversification Authority (ECEDA), began with an idea of a transloading facility in late 2004. By April of 2005, a California engineering firm recommended the Ellison Ranch as an ideal site for a rail-served industrial park for northeastern Nevada. The company selected the site because of its proximity to the City of Elko and Union Pacific Railroad’s rail yard in Elko County. The site’s flat terrain and direct proximity to Interstate 80 were also instrumental in the site being deemed the best choice. Most importantly, the site’s access to both eastbound and westbound rail service made it valuable. For example, it is situated between West Coast ports and Salt Lake City distribution and is south of Boise, Idaho and east of Reno, Nevada.
Elko County will construct a 100-acre transload facility specializing in carload service for northeastern Nevada and southern Idaho customers. The Northeastern Nevada Regional Railport (NNRR) will handle several types of commodities and service will be tailored to the customer’s needs.
ECEDA commissioned a target industry study last year that identified several types of industry that would benefit from the Railport service mix and location. Construction products, mining support supplies and small manufacturing were the first to be identified. Food processing was also identified because of Elko County’s plentiful water supply. The County is exploring the possibility of setting up a Free Trade Zone as a benefit to the transloading facility, warehousing facilities, and the industrial park.
Union Pacific Railroad encouraged this project from its conception and the State of Nevada Legislature showed its support last year by contributing $1 million toward the project. State officials and Union Pacific representatives will be present at the Friday, June 23, 2006 groundbreaking celebration and reception. The public is encouraged to attend as well. The ceremony commences at 3 p.m. at the ranch. For additional information on the NNRR Groundbreaking Ceremony or the Northeastern Nevada Regional Railport and Industrial Park, please call ECEDA at 775.738.2100.