Haines City, FL – In 2005, Haines City built a 2.8-mile railroad spur to connect the Haines City Industrial Park to the main CSX line. Creating rail access has helped Haines City recruit new businesses and create new jobs.
In the Industrial Park and the surrounding area are companies that manufacture and distribute lumber, trusses, pavers, aerated concrete blocks and other materials used to build homes across the country. Freight rail is key to connecting these companies to homebuilders across the U.S.
The rail spur is also behind the decision of a paper company to invest $30 million to install a new paper manufacturing machine and build 88,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
“Central Florida businesses and consumers benefit from the billions of private dollars spent every year by freight railroads on the rail network that connects us to the global supply chain,” said Cyndi Jantomaso, President and CEO of the Haines City Economic Development Council. “Freight volumes have been forecast to grow and many highways are already stretched beyond capacity. Freight rail is an excellent alternative.”
