Emporia will benefit from a major federal grant to help business expansion in the southeast corner of town.
The US Department of Commerce has announced a $1.3 million grant to build a 1-million-gallon water tower for Industrial Park III near Penny Lane and Weaver Streets. Mayor Danny Giefer says discussions began shortly after the city’s massive water main break at 18th and Prairie last July.
Regional Development Association President Kent Heermann called this a team effort, with work from the city, RDA, BG Consultants and others. He says a lot of work went into securing this money.
Kansas Congressman Roger Marshall says projects like these help to strengthen both local and regional economies.
The roughly $3.5 million grant will help support the ongoing Simmons Pet Food expansion, but it will also help current businesses already in the industrial park — and it will help in another way by funding three additional lots to be developed, thus bringing perhaps another 100 jobs to the area. The Department of Commerce estimates Wednesday’s announcement could trigger some $38 million in private investment locally.
