Development Authority moves to pursue rail‑spur grant for Romney Industrial Park; large local match likely
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Summary
The county’s Development Authority authorized preliminary work on a Christie rail‑infrastructure grant to build a rail spur into Romney Industrial Park. An engineering estimate put full buildout near $19.5 million; a 20% match could mean a $3–$3.5 million local share, and the authority committed small seed funding to secure a concept design.
The Hampshire County Development Authority reported March 24 that it will pursue a Christie (community rail infrastructure and safety) grant to construct a rail spur into the Romney Industrial Park to support Potomac Eagle operations.
JT Hott, director of the Development Authority, said a prior RK&K engineering study showed a full buildout could approach $19,500,000 and that the immediate goal is to focus on the south Y to avoid flood‑plain and environmental complications. To prepare a competitive application, Hott proposed hiring Stone Consulting to produce a conceptual drawing and cost estimate for $15,000; the state has pledged $12,000 toward that effort, the Development Authority committed $1,500, and Potomac Eagle’s owner agreed to contribute $1,500.
Hott cautioned commissioners that a grant‑funded $15–$19.5 million project would require a 20% local match. “If this ends up being a $15,000,000 project, we're looking at a 3 to 3 and a half million dollar match,” Hott said, and he reported he has reached out to state leaders and noted a representative of a U.S. congressional office was in the audience.
Hott said the authority has assembled a local grant team (county grant writer, rail operators, Stone Consulting and others) to prepare for a short application window once the grant drops. He told the commission the authority plans to return with a specific request for county‑level assistance if the application advances and a quantifiable local ask emerges.
Why it matters: a funded spur could expand rail storage and maintenance capacity in the industrial park and potentially increase private investment and taxable assets in the county. Commissioners expressed gratitude for the authority’s work and indicated they would consider a future funding request on its merits.
