Delta Railroad will receive Clean Ohio Assistance Funds

Monday, December 14, 2009

Today(12/14/2009), the State Controlling Board approved a Clean Ohio Assessment Grant from the Ohio Department of Development’s Clean Ohio Fund to assist Delta Railroad Construction, Inc. of Saybrook Township, to acquire a 50+ acre site for an expansion. The grant will be for $251,816 to cover the costs of the environmental assessment under the Voluntary Action Program of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Ohio Representative Deborah Newcomb states “the Growth Partnership, Saybrook Township, Ohio Department of Development and Hull and Associates have been working with Delta Railroad, who plans to construct a 20,000 sq.ft. building with overhead cranes to allow for a business expansion, which would allow up to a $2 million investment on the site.”

Joe Mayernick, executive director of Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County said the Company employs 40 at its headquarter site on SR 20 in Saybrook, an 11 acre parcel. Delta is recognized as one of the nation’s premier railroad construction and engineering companies in the Country, established in 1957 and has over 250 employees at its various project sites throughout the United States.”
Newcomb adds that “the Laurello family is a well established, positive influence in the business community in Ashtabula County and has for over 50 years established a tradition of hard work, good jobs, and positive leadership in the community.”

Delta Railroad has grown from a small track repair business serving local clients to a full-service railroad construction company serving the eastern United States. Their services include new track construction, track maintenance and rehabilitation, flash-butt rail welding (continuous welded rail), track equipment repair and re manufacturing, and track equipment sales, rentals and leasing. Delta Railroad provides services for industry, Short Line railroads, Class I railroads, commuter and passenger transit lines, and metro trolley systems. They have been recognized by the State of Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for their excellent safety record.

This project is a top priority for Saybrook Township, Ashtabula County and Growth Partnership. The future land use for this property was identified as “industrial” in the Township’s draft comprehensive plan and the planned reuse comports with that directive. This project also supports many of the recommendations made in the comprehensive plan, including the redevelopment of existing brownfield sites. This COAF project helps implement the township’s comprehensive business attraction and retention strategy as well as its redevelopment strategy for vacant and underutilized properties. This is a critical redevelopment project in Saybrook Township and in Ashtabula County that will result in job retention and new job creation opportunities.