Earlier this week the City of Knoxville was approved for a $94,000 grant from the Iowa DOT for funding through their Rail Port Planning and Development Grant Program. The city had applied for the funding to begin planning for a potential industrial park and rail spur. City Manager Harold Stewart tells KNIA KRLS News that rail access is a rare and highly desired commodity in industrial development. Stewart tells us that this funding is a major step forward in planning the project.