Area Development
MPR Transloading, a multi-modal transload center, plans a $9.5 million investment that includes renovation and construction, along with infrastructure improvements and rail service expansion, at its Guernsey Street Industrial Park facility in Bellaire, Ohio.

According to Ohio Southeast Economic Development, located on 50 acres of land adjacent to the Ohio River and State Route 7, the infrastructure improvements will include utilities along with road and rail spurs on the newly acquired acreage providing for direct barge, train, and truck transloading. The entire development process including all infrastructure improvements is expected to be completed by November 2022.

According to Natalie Brown, President of MPR Transloading & Energy Services, “As more companies realize the value of multi-modal transloading in Bellaire, Ohio, MPR’s growth has continued. We secured land a half mile south of our current transloading facility for business expansion. Funding was obtained from our local bank, but we knew land development would not be viable without JobsOhio’s support.”

The site is situated between industrial uses, the Ohio River and railways operated by NS and Wheeling & Lake Erie. Approximately 13 acres will be available near the Ohio River for transloading operations and laydown yards, an additional 9 acres for development, storage with facilities available for lease, and approximately 12 acres for site access and rail development. The properties have not been used for more than a decade. The primary development site was previously used as a block and brick plant and a coal loading facility.

“Collaboration resulted in a successful effort to develop and revitalize this Bellaire property to be open for businesses and job creation before the end of next year,” said J.P. Nauseef, president and CEO of JobsOhio. “JobsOhio’s Ohio Site Inventory Program, combined with important assistance from our local partners in Southeast Ohio, will result in a job-ready site providing significant competitive advantage for companies looking to grow their business from a premier multi-mode transloading location.”

The infrastructure improvements are being made with assistance through JobsOhio’s Ohio Site Inventory Program that includes a $2 million OSIP Spec Development Loan and a $500,000 OSIP Spec Development Grant.

“The MPR Multi-Modal Transload Center in Bellaire will provide more opportunities to move bulk goods efficiently using the cost and fuel savings of barge and rail for long distances and truck for short distances,” said Mike Jacoby, president of OhioSE. “The benefit of this investment will go beyond the expansion of the MPR facility to include the creation of economic activity in Bellaire through the attraction of related and synergistic businesses. This is an exciting time for the Bellaire area, eastern Ohio, the State of Ohio.”