Stephanie Pack, a representative of the Utah Inland Port Authority, presented the Authority’s annual report for the Tooele Valley project area at the Dec. 2 Tooele County Council meeting.

"This week marks our 2 year anniversary in partnership with the county for this project area," Pack said, noting the Authority completed its first amendment to the project area and added approximately 342 acres. She told council members the Tooele Valley Public Infrastructure District completed a bond issuance in October that raised $33,000,000 "that will go into critical infrastructure in this area," including roads, water and wastewater lines, power and fiber.

Pack highlighted the recent Savage Tooele railroad ribbon cutting and said the new short‑line — about 11 miles of new rail — positions Tooele County as a rail‑served market. "That is a historic event for the county. That's the first short line rail to be created in the state in over a century," she said, adding the Authority is marketing the site with Union Pacific and pursuing five active recruitment projects she expects could close early next year.

The presentation also referenced environmental protection efforts: the developer procured roughly 600 acres of adjacent wetland and the Authority set aside 3% of the project area increment to support preservation of those wetlands in perpetuity and to fund related on‑the‑ground projects.

Why it matters: The bond gives the project area immediate capital to install horizontal infrastructure that developers say is necessary for private investment to follow. The council and presenters framed the rail connection and infrastructure funding as likely to increase the county’s economic profile and tax base over time.

What’s next: Pack said the Authority anticipates triggering the first project‑area parcels in 2026 for the 2027 tax year and will return next year with another update."