The Pioneer Valley Railroad sustains over 3,000 jobs, including 1,000 at Yankee Candle.
Railroad and Yankee Candle combine to strengthen community
What is seventeen miles long and sustains more than 3,000 jobs in the Holyoke, Mass. area? The Pioneer Valley Railroad. The PVRR is a locally owned, home-based short line freight railroad that interchanges with CSXT. This cooperative effort helps PVRR’s customers — including Yankee Candle, Jen Coat, Sonoco, Agway, and Lowes — be more competitive in the marketplace and keeps much-needed jobs in the community.
In order for many local industries that do not have direct rail access to take advantage of the railroad’s service, PVRR offers several intermodal alternatives. The PVRR/Yankee Candle story typifies the record of success by the railroad in using innovation and creativity to help their customers succeed, even in the face of daunting marketplace obstacles.
Much of the wax used by Yankee Candle is brought into Holyoke by rail, melted through a steam reduction process, and transferred to trucks for the final mile. The facility that transforms the bulk wax into liquid wax previously a derelict piece of property. In a mere six weeks, the facility was transformed. No state or federal dollars were used in this transformation. PVRR, Superior Carriers Inc., and Yankee Candle partnered to pay for these improvements.
Mike Rennicke, Vice President of the PVRR, describes their partnership with Yankee Candle and the City of Holyoke as, “a tremendous example of what can be accomplished when you have a true partnership with a willing municipality that shares common goals to provide quality service and opportunities for employment.” Mayor Elaine A. Pluta agreed, “The railroad is an important aspect of our current business model and an integral part of our current twenty-year City Master Plan.” Holyoke Chamber of Commerce President, Doris Ransford noted, “We may not think of freight rail as a driver for economic development, but such has been the case in Holyoke. The Pioneer Valley Railroad has been a true partner with the city and the business community in helping to develop more manufacturing in very creative ways.”
Thanks to freight rail, the future does indeed look bright for Yankee Candle and the City of Holyoke. Projects taking advantage of rail access — such as additional wax business, biofuels, food grade products, and a sugar liquefaction facility — are being considered. As with the Yankee Candle Project, these new endeavors will ensure additional employment in the region and continued growth for Holyoke.