Us’s Hershey Rail Park welcomes Project grit As First tenant, Boosting Lincoln County growth: Everything You Need To Know

Published on September 10, 2025

Lincoln County sewage a large assistance this week erstwhile Project Grit moved person to becoming nan first charismatic tenant of nan recently built Hershey Rail Park. Residents present are beaming pinch pridefulness that nan agelong imagination for this obstruction parkland is yet coming to life. They spot this arsenic nan commencement of a caller chapter, bringing economical maturation and caller chances for group surviving present and those who travel to visit.

First measurement successful location investment

The Nebraska International Port of nan Plains confirmed connected Tuesday that it is finalising negotiations pinch Project Grit successful bid to found operations wrong nan Hershey Rail Park by this November. According to nan Port Authority, nan improvement represents an important first measurement towards transforming nan tract into a hub for transportation, logistics, and precocious manufacturing successful occidental Nebraska.

Hershey Rail Park forms portion of a broader location plan, supported by authorities and section authorities, to create modern rail-served business sites. According to nan Nebraska Department of Economic Development (NDED), nan authorities has prioritised agrarian business improvement arsenic a cardinal portion of its economical strategy, noting that obstruction entree straight supports cultivation exports, distribution, and high-value manufacturing ventures.

Officials suggested that Project Grit’s determination to go nan park’s first tenant demonstrates early assurance successful nan semipermanent imaginable of nan project.

Project Grit’s plans for Hershey Rail Park

During discussions pinch nan Nebraska International Port of nan Plains, institution representatives outlined a phased occupation creation plan. It was indicated that six to 8 section labor would apt beryllium hired successful nan 2nd twelvemonth of operations, pinch full employment perchance rising to betwixt 10 and 15 positions astatine afloat capacity.

Operations are expected to statesman successful a information of nan Old Green Brier building, which Project Grit intends to accommodate for coding, packaging, and nan trading of high-margin products. It was noted that activity successful this assemblage could stimulate further spin-off finance successful Lincoln County, arsenic much businesses look to co-locate pinch obstruction and road access.

The institution highlighted that its operations would statesman modestly, but its semipermanent strategy would bring value-added products into nan location economy, aligning pinch Nebraska’s push towards sustainable, diverse, and precocious manufacturing industries.

Board supports Union Pacific jobs successful region

Alongside discussions connected Project Grit, nan Nebraska International Port of nan Plains voted unanimously to endorse a solution successful support of retaining Union Pacific jobs successful Lincoln County.

Chairman Jim Hawks remarked that moving these roles to Union Pacific’s Omaha office would importantly impact North Platte communities. He explained that not only would nan positions themselves beryllium lost, but besides nan family stableness and mini businesses sustained by labor successful nan area would beryllium put astatine risk. The solution echoed 1 passed earlier by nan Lincoln County Commissioners, underlining location solidarity connected nan issue.

Visitor and tourism accommodation planned

Though Hershey Rail Park is chiefly designed arsenic an business and logistics hub, Lincoln County officials person besides considered visitant needs and organization spaces arsenic portion of broader improvement plans. According to section authorities readying resources, improvements will see caller commercialized accommodation specified arsenic eating spaces, visitant remainder areas, and an accusation centre highlighting nan region’s railway heritage.

The tract will besides merge pinch Lincoln County’s wider tourism initiatives. Efforts are underway to link Hershey and North Platte attractions, including Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park and nan Golden Spike Tower, pinch caller signage and proscription links. Public officials person stressed that while nan parkland is focused connected industry, location will besides beryllium accommodation designed for visiting families and obstruction history enthusiasts.

Broader effect for Lincoln County and Nebraska

State authorities agencies person consistently emphasised nan economical worth of projects that fortify agrarian Nebraska. Data from nan Nebraska Department of Labour indicates that manufacturing employment successful Lincoln County has knowledgeable renewed request successful caller years, and infrastructure projects specified arsenic Hershey Rail Park are expected to grow this growth.

By attracting nan first tenant, nan parkland gains not only credibility but besides a instauration for trading itself to early investors. Officials suggested successful discussions that assurance from 1 institution could enactment arsenic a catalyst for larger-scale development, ensuring Hershey Rail Park emerges arsenic much than a single-industry site.

The Nebraska Department of Transportation has besides mapped infrastructure improvements aimed astatine enhancing freight connectivity, pinch Hershey situated advantageously adjacent to some Interstate 80 and Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard, nan largest obstruction classification gait successful nan world.

Community hopes tied to Project Grit

For Lincoln County residents, nan advancement of Hershey Rail Park offers nan imaginable of caller opportunities and greater stableness for a organization historically tied to nan railway industry. Local leaders noted that attracting a private-sector partner specified arsenic Project Grit provides existent momentum, arsenic conversations astir economical improvement modulation from absurd plans to on-the-ground investment.

As operations statesman this November, section group person acknowledged that nan early number of jobs whitethorn beryllium modest, but location is cautious optimism that Project Grit’s beingness will laic nan groundwork for a stronger, much diversified economy. Community representatives emphasised that while difficulties stay complete retaining Union Pacific jobs, nan Hershey Rail Park demonstrates Lincoln County’s determination to build a early rooted successful innovation, resilience, and pride.

Bottom Line

People present felt that welcoming nan first caller institution is bigger than a elemental lease agreement; it feels for illustration a crossroads for Hershey and North Platte. The metropolis now gets a chance to reshape its communicative and its future, each while still honoring its roots successful nan railroad and its agelong rails.