Some local leaders say they are thrilled with the announcement that The Andersons, Inc. is buying the former Freightcar America facility in Danville. The Andersons intends to turn the early 1900s building into a full-service freight and tank car repair shop.
‘’We are delighted that Freight Car was able to identify another rail-related business to benefit from the infrastructure on this site and simultaneously benefit the entire Vermilion County Community,’’ was the reaction from Vickie Haugen. She is the President of Vermilion Advantage Economic Development Corporation. ‘’It would have been very difficult and expensive to adapt to additional uses and a waste of invaluable rail storage capacity,’’ added Haugen.
‘’It is very exciting to see that property in use once again, and taking it back to its roots of rail car repair, blasting, painting, cleaning and scrapping,’’ Mayor Scott Eisenhauer told VearmilionCountyFirst.com News. The Danville Mayor added, ‘’I am glad this transition allows a national company to grow here in the community, and think long-term benefits will be derived from their investment in this facility and in this city.’’
Haugen added the fact it is The Andersons, a highly respected business in the industry, is a real win for our area.
Haugen says Vermilion Advantage has not yet been given anticipated full time job numbers or total investment numbers. ‘’I’m sure once the actual sale is complete by the end of August, we will have a much better view of the future moving forward,’’ she added.
