MPR Transloading, in collaboration with JobsOhio, Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE), and Belmont County Economic Development, today announced a $9.5 million investment encompassing renovation and construction of 19,000 square feet of facilities along with infrastructure improvements at its Bellaire facility on 50 acres of land adjacent to the Ohio River and State Route 7.
Infrastructure improvements will include utilities along with road and rail spurs on the newly acquired acreage providing for direct barge, train, and truck transloading. The entire development process including all infrastructure improvements is expected to be completed by November 2022.
According to Natalie Brown, President of MPR Transloading & Energy Services, “As more companies realize the value of multi-modal transloading in Bellaire, Ohio, MPR’s growth has continued. We secured land a half mile south of our current transloading facility for business expansion. Funding was obtained from our local bank, but we knew land development would not be viable without JobsOhio’s support.”
“JobsOhio, Ohio SE, and the Belmont County Port Authority worked quickly and efficiently to provide funding for the project. Their collaboration with OMEGA, Appalachian Growth Capital, the Ohio Rail Development Commission, and our local bank, WesBanco, allowed us to formulate a plan to bring this vacant, brownfield property back to life,” Brown continued. “We are grateful for JobsOhio and the other partners’ assistance to expand MPR. This will allow us to create more jobs in Belmont County, attract new businesses to the area, and offer cost-saving opportunities to numerous organizations through multi-mode transloading.”
The infrastructure improvements are being made with assistance through JobsOhio’s Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) that includes a $2 million OSIP Spec Development Loan and a $500,000 OSIP Spec Development Grant.
“Collaboration resulted in a successful effort to develop and revitalize this Bellaire property to be open for businesses and job creation before the end of next year,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “JobsOhio’s Ohio Site Inventory Program, combined with important assistance from our local partners in Southeast Ohio, will result in a job-ready site providing significant competitive advantage for companies looking to grow their business from a premier multi-mode transloading location.”
The approximately 50-acre site is minutes from I-70 located in the Village of Bellaire in Belmont County in an area called the Guernsey Street Industrial Park. The site is situated between industrial uses, the Ohio River and railways operated by NS and Wheeling & Lake Erie. Approximately 13 acres will be available near the Ohio River for transloading operations and laydown yards, an additional 9 acres for development, storage with facilities available for lease, and approximately 12 acres for site access and rail development. The properties have not been used for more than a decade. The primary development site was previously used as a block and brick plant and a coal loading facility.
“The MPR Multi-Modal Transload Center in Bellaire will provide more opportunities to move bulk goods efficiently using the cost and fuel savings of barge and rail for long distances and truck for short distances,” said Mike Jacoby, president of OhioSE. “The benefit of this investment will go beyond the expansion of the MPR facility to include the creation of economic activity in Bellaire through the attraction of related and synergistic businesses. This is an exciting time for the Bellaire area, eastern Ohio, the State of Ohio.”
“It’s exciting news to hear about the development of this tremendous river, rail, and highway property,” said Larry Merry, Director of the Belmont County Port Authority. “It’s even more satisfying that this project is being done by Belmont County citizens, continuing to grow their business and grow the community.”
Additional coverage:
- “Multi-modal transload center in Bellaire plans $9.5M investment, expansion of rail services” – The Highland County Press, 05/29/2021
- “MPR Transloading Upgrades Bellaire, Ohio, Complex” – Area Development, 06/02/2021
- “MPR Transloading Announces $9.5M Investment in Bellaire Facility” – The Intelligencer, 06/01/2021
- “MPR plans $9.5M investment, expansion of services” – The Times Leader, 05/29/2021
- “MPR Invests In Expanded Transloading Operations Along Ohio River” – The Waterways Journal Weekly, 04/21/2021
