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$2 million to help put water, sewer in business park
TE Aerial Closeup
Construction on Tradeport East already includes the Target distribution center, flanked by the Tire Rack on the left and a spectacular building being put up by IDI. - photo by Photo provided / Coastal Courier
The Liberty County Development Authority recently received $2 million from the Economic Development Administration to help fund the water and sewer infrastructure in Tradeport East.
The grant was awarded in March 2005 as an incentive for Target to locate a 1.5 million square foot regional distribution center in Tradeport, bringing 500 jobs to Liberty County.   EDA helped fund approximately half of the water and sewer infrastructure construction in the park.  The improvements included two pumping stations, two wells, a 300,000-gallon ground storage tank, and water and sewer distribution lines.
As part of the grant process, the LCDA worked with the Liberty County Commission, Daughters of the American Colonists and the Department of Natural Resources in preserving and educating the public about relevant historic portions of Sunbury Road.
Milton Cochran, project manager for EDA, said, "We are confident that our investment in the water/sewer construction in Tradeport East will enhance economic development in the area and there will be more jobs and private investment to come."
Since EDA awarded the funds for Tradeport East, Target has opened its center, along with The Tire Rack, which is operating a 242,000 square foot distribution center that is designed so its size can be more than doubled.  In addition, IDI, a national real estate development firm, has committed to buy 300 acres (with an option to get a total of 1,000 acres) in the business part east of Midway. That company has begun construction on a 502,000 square foot speculative building and is preparing five building pads, ranging in size from 200,000 to 1.2 million square feet.
"We are so grateful to EDA for providing grant funding to help with the water/sewer construction for Tradeport East," LCDA CEO Ronald E. Tolley said.  "EDA's commitment to our project allowed us to get the park off to great start and gain momentum to recruit other high caliber companies."
Tradeport East is part of the Tradeport Business Center, which includes Tradeport West.  Tradeport Business Center is a 5,300-acre mixed used development that straddles I-95 in Liberty County.
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