PRICHARD, W.Va. — Officials in Wayne County are optimistic about what may become of the Heartland Intermodal Gateway in Prichard following the transfer of ownership from the West Virginia Department of Transportation (DOT) to the county commission.
Gov. Jim Justice announced last week the DOT’s recently-created Division of Multimodal Transportation Facilities transferred the ownership of the 65-acre facility designed to transfer 20-foot and 40-foot shipping containers between railcars and trucks.
The facility was built by the former West Virginia Public Port Authority following a 2013 agreement with the Norfolk Southern railroad. The $32 million project was paid for with a combination of state money and a federal grant award.
Kenneth Adkins, the Wayne County Commission President told MetroNews the transfer is what is best for everyone here.
“I do believe we have a vested interest here. I believe that’ll go a long way in seeing us stick with it and get this thing open and running again,” Adkins said.
The West Virginia Board of Public Works approved the transfer of the facility on Tuesday, July 26.
In Feb. 2021, then State Transportation Secretary Byrd White told members of the House of Delegates Finance Committee the property was set to be sold as part of an online auction in 2020 with the final bids scheduled to be received on April 2, 2020, but then the pandemic hit.
Adkins said the county will be a needs assessment on the facility and look to hire an operator. Adkins said the operator needs to bring business and tenants to the facility. Adkins added the county will continue to work with Norfolk Southern Railroad.
According to Adkins, the commission has seed money and local economic development authority funding to get the facility ‘up to speed.’ He said the state Legislature members, including state Senator Bob Plymale (D-Wayne), are searching for grant monies for additional funding.
“We have enough to get started but we are working on getting these grants in order to get it up and marketable,” Adkins said.
Adkins said the county will look to get a free trade zone at the facility to make it more marketable. He said that means advantages for companies to bring in different components of a product without paying tax until the product is completed and shipped.
Adkins also believed the current supply chain issue will help the facility attract business.
“With the supply chain shortages we are all seeing right now, the ships that are coming into the port of Virginia, this is a very good time for the addition of the facility,” he said.