Company plans new facility at CSX terminal in Henry Twp.

4/25/2012

NORTH BALTIMORE, Ohio -- A Findlay-based U.S. Customs broker and freight logistics company has announced plans for a new facility near the CSX rail freight-transfer terminal in Henry Township that opened last year.

Willmar International Inc. said Tuesday it had acquired 76.92 acres on the south side of State Rt. 18 about a mile west of the CSX terminal's main entrance.

It plans to develop its own operations there as well as make "shovel-ready" building sites available to other companies interested in locating near the terminal.

The company said it "believes this will help jump-start the progress of economic development in the area, allowing companies to build and start creating jobs that will be needed to serve the growing opportunities generated once the CSX intermodal facility is operating at its full potential."

Wade Gottschalk, the associate director of the Wood County Economic Development Commission, said Willmar is the first outside company to announce development plans associated with the CSX facility.

"We've been predicting lots of warehousing and distribution, and this fits into that kind of thing," Mr. Gottschalk said. "It's a great addition to the Henry Township and the North Baltimore region."

In a statement issued Tuesday, Willmar said it hopes to break ground "within the next several months after site plans are designed and approved."

Its announcement contained no details about the company facility or how many jobs might be involved.

A company official did not respond to a request for more details.

Mr. Gottschalk said he was not aware of Willmar having requested any tax incentives for its project, but has asked about infrastructure improvements.

"We're going to work with them to ensure their success if we can," he said.