Ribbon Cutting at New Trans-Load Facility in Louisville

A crowd of approximately fifty gathered at the ribbon cutting of the new Trans-Load Facility located on Railroad Avenue in Louisville on Tuesday morning (May 24). The new facility began with a unique idea to meet a need in the community. When the old Richton Tie & Timber property became available, area leaders worked with the Kansas City Southern Railroad, Mississippi Development Authority, TVA and the Appalachian Regional Commission to bring a public rail spur to the community.
David Fiveash of Kansas City Southern indicated that the Public Trans-Load facility was the first of its kind in this area and that the Louisville site could be a role model for other communities with similar situations.
Gerald Mills, the Executive Director of the Winston County Partnership introduced and thanked officials from participating agencies. He also indicated that expansion of the facility may be under consideration with additional rail spurs and a facility to repair rail cars in the future.
Mayor Will Hill indicated that the facility would be a major asset not only to local industry such as Temtco Steel, Taylor's and Rives and Reynolds Lumber but would also be a great recruiting tool to bring more industry into the area.
Whit Hughes, the representative from MDA added that the Trans-Load Facility was an example of what could be accomplished when a community listens to what the marketplace was telling it, being fiscally responsible and looking to the global economy as this is an asset that will help the local area compete on a global scale.
Speakers at the event included: Mayor Hill, Senator Giles Ward, Representative Russ Nowell, Supervisor Jerry Estes,Gerald Mills, Executive Director of the Winston County Partnership, David Fiveash of KCS, Mike Armour of the ARC, Stephen Surles of TVA and Whit Hughes from MDA.