Renovo Rail in line for nearly $750,000 in state funding

LOCK HAVEN - Over $1 million in more improvements will be in the offing at the Renovo Rail building in the Renovo Industrial Park, thanks to an expected grant from the Bureau of Rail Freight.

The Clinton County commissioners Thursday agreed to sponsor the company's request for $748,999 in state grants for the work. The grant requires a 25 percent match from the company, or $320,999, for the expected $1.07-million project.

County Planner Tim Holladay said the action comes as the company is nearly done with a $900,000 improvement project at the firm, which included $630,000 in state grants.

The new work, Holladay said, will include:

- $190,000 for concrete repairs

- $160,000 to replace railroad ties

- $300,000 to repair two overhead cranes to lift the rail cars that are being repaired

- $44,000 to extend the track out of the east end of the building 300 feet

- $150,000 to complete the second switch at the east end of the rail yard to allow it to pull cars straight from Norfolk Southern into the production facility and out the other end

- $60,000 for electrical work in the main bay

- $80,000 to repair windows and doors in the east and west bays.

- $86,000 for engineering services.

Holladay reported Renovo Rail has nearly doubled its work force from a year ago, now employing between 22 and 24 people.

Commissioner Tom Bossert said the county has stepped forward both last year and this year to "move forward for opportunities for employment in western Clinton County."