BNSF customers' economic development projects topped $1B in 2019

BNSF Railway Co. announced yesterday that its customers invested $1.2 billion in developments last year.

The developments supported a variety of commodities, including consumer, agricultural and industrial products in more than 100 communities across the Class I's network, BNSF officials said in a press release.

Last year was the ninth consecutive year that BNSF customers and local economic development organizations spent more than $1 billion in a calendar year for new or expanded facilities, they said.

"BNSF strives to offer unique supply chain solutions that fit our customers’ logistical needs and help maximize their investments,” said Colby Tanner, assistant vice president of economic development. "The flexibility of our rail development program allows our customers to reach new growing markets while saving time and money.”

Examples of supply chain solutions that BNSF helped its customers achieve last year included:

• Ag Processing Inc., a $300 million investment a soybean processing location, the company's 10th, in Aberdeen, South Dakota. The facility is expected to process more than 50 million bushels of soybeans annually and create 60 new jobs.
• Hostess Brands LLC invested $35 million in a new distribution center in Edgerton, Kansas. The project strengthened Hostess' distribution strategy with a direct connection to the U.S. supply chain through Logistics Park Kansas City.
• SeaCa Packaging, a plastics manufacturer that invested $18 million in opening its first plant location in Surprise, Arizona. The plant creates boxes for agriculture products.