Iowa Interstate, numerous partners to develop rail park in central Iowa

Iowa Interstate Railroad LLC (IAIS) has teamed up with Jasper County to acquire 294 acres of farmland northwest of Newton, Iowa, to establish the Newton Rail Park. 

The industrial rail development will total 367 developable acres, IAIS and county officials said in a press release. 

The new park is a unique opportunity for economic development that will benefit both the county and central Iowa, said Brandon Talsma, who chairs the Jasper County Board of Supervisors. 

Located within the park will be IAIS’s Newton Rail Terminal and its newly developed $9 million Renewable Energy Logistics Center, a transload facility that serves wind energy companies and other industries. 

“We see the Newton Rail Park as more than just a strategic site, it’s a shared investment in the future of this region. This public-private partnership reflects a common vision: to bring high-quality jobs, infrastructure and new opportunities to central Iowa,” said IAIS President and CEO Joe Parsons. 

Newton Rail Park is the only industrial park of its kind in the state of Iowa, county officials said. A portion of the park is ready for tenants and the rest of it will be developed over time. Other partners involved in the park’s development include Jasper County Economic Development Corp., Newton Development Corp., the city of Newton, Alliant Energy, ITC Midwest and Black Hills Energy.   

Next steps include finalizing the park’s site certification with the Iowa Economic Development Authority later this year, advancing key infrastructure planning, arranging funding, advancing construction and conducting aggressive marketing campaigns to recruit tenants.