Goal of $4.4M purchase is to recruit large employers
Nearly $4.5 million of land is being purchased to expand Midwest Industrial Park in hopes of luring large employers to Wayne County.
Wayne County and the City of Richmond will buy a total of 326 acres from Toschlog Family Farms LLC at $13,750 per acre, for a cost of $4,483,737.50.
The price is nearly split between the two units of government.
The county will buy 160 acres on the west side of Round Barn Road at the intersection with Gaar Jackson Road. Richmond will buy 166.09 acres on the east side of Round Barn.
Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County called a special meeting Friday to authorize an option to purchase the land, and its board approved that plan.
Sarah Mitchell, manager of economic development for the EDC, said the addition will allow her team to market large pieces of land to large industries as potential sites are explored.
The EDC has had to decline those requests for information because they don’t have large lots available at the park, hampering potential future economic growth.
The available land in Phase 1 and 2 of the industrial park ranges from 6 acres to 52 acres.
The land to be purchased is directly south and adjacent to Phases 1 and 2 of the industrial park.