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Last year, Norfolk Southern Corp. attracted 70 new industrial facilities to its lines and helped entice shippers to expand 45 plants systemwide — industrial development efforts that will generate more than 95,000 carloads of additional traffic annually.

NS marketing execs worked with state and local government and economic development officials in 19 states to help shippers identify sites for new facilities and pursue expansions. The railroad provides free plant location services, including site layout, engineering and logistics assistance.

Among the $2 billion worth of industrial development projects NS attracted in 2006, Gatorade opened a $140 million beverage plant in Wythe County, Va.; Columbia Farms Inc. built a feed mill in Leesville, S.C.; Menards Inc. constructed a lumber distribution center in Holiday City, Ohio; and Prairie Packaging Inc. opened a manufacturing facility in Huntersville, N.C. In addition, the Class I helped U.S. Fence Inc. expand its Bulls Gap, Tenn., facility by doubling inbound track capacity.

During the past 10 years, NS’ industrial development department has helped locate or expand 1,108 facilities along the railroad’s lines.