The Jasper County Board of Supervisors took another step toward the purchase of land for the new Jasper Rail Park Tuesday. The board unanimously passed resolutions to proceed with the issuance of up to $1,950,000 of Taxable General Obligation Urban Renewal Capital Loan Notes, and approving electronic and internet bidding procedures for the sale of the notes. 

Jasper County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Jeff Davidson says several potential businesses are already considering locating in the 481 acre Jasper Rail Park that will surround Iowa Interstate Railroad’s Newton Railyard. 

“The thing we are trying to accomplish more than anything else is speed to market. We are not competitive  to where we need to be right now. We need to have faster speed to market. The longer a potential development prospect’s money is tied up and nothing is happening with that money, they are going to go somewhere else, where they can get into the ground faster.”

Jasper County and Iowa Interstate Railroad are financing the acquisition of the additional land needed for the industrial park.