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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Eagle Railcar Services Opens Washington, Indiana, Operations Hub

08/24/2018
Eagle Railcar Services, an independent provider of railcar repair services, officially opened its facility in Daviess County, Indiana. The facility has already created more than 100 new Hoosier jobs.

The company, which is headquartered in Eastland, Texas, is investing more than $18 million to establish and equip a 150,000-square-foot railcar repair and maintenance facility at 1723 W. Walnut St. in Washington.

"Many factors led us to choose Indiana for our newest facility. The state’s business friendly environment, tremendous workforce, and Indiana’s significant rail traffic from both the Midwest and East Coast are among the top reasons," said Marc Walraven, President & Owner of Eagle Railcar Services. "The city of Washington, with its rich railroad heritage and progressive, forward-thinking city leaders, made the selection easy."

Eagle Railcar Services started construction in 2016, revamping an existing 80,000-square-foot facility and its on-site rail infrastructure that was previously home to BW Services and required significant demolition and renovations. The company, which is now operational in southwest Indiana, is also constructing 70,000 square feet of new structures, which are scheduled to be completed by the end of this year.

Eagle Railcar Services, a privately-owned firm, has already hired more than 100 employees in Indiana, exceeding its 2017 job commitment to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). The company plans to add another 20 associates this year and is currently hiring welders, blasters and painters.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Eagle Railcar Services up to $600,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $150,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning that until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The IEDC also offered up to $2.95 million in conditional tax credits from the Industrial Recovery Tax Credit (DINO) program, which provides an incentive to invest in former industrial sites and improve quality of place in Indiana communities. The city of Washington approved additional incentives at the request of the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC).

"Our top-ranked infrastructure paired with a pro-growth business climate and skilled workforce makes Indiana the perfect location for Eagle Railcar Services' fifth railcar facility," said Lt. Governor Suzanna Crouch. "We are excited to welcome the company to Indiana, the Crossroads of America, and we will continue to work together to ensure they have the talent and tools needed to grow and succeed in Washington."

Eagle Railcar Services, which has more than 650 associates across the country, has five full-service repair and maintenance facilities in Indiana, Ohio and Texas and also offers mobile repair services. The company’s direct Class 1 railroad service provides a convenient, cost-effective, one-stop network for all of its customers' railcar maintenance needs.

“We’re pleased that Eagle Railcar is rejuvenating a long-time historic industry in the city of Washington and creating a strategic position for growth,” said Mayor Wellman. “We are appreciative that the team of the IEDC, the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation and the city of Washington are able to work together to produce a competitive situation to attract companies like Eagle Railcar and encourage investment and commitment to the region.”

“Eagle Railcar represents a great match for Washington in terms of location, workforce and area resources,” said Ron Arnold, Executive Director of the DCEDC. “We look forward to helping Eagle Railcar maximize its investment and grow its business in the region.”

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