OmniTRAX, Inc. has collaborated with the Port of Brownsville in facilitating the lease of a large grain-handling facility at the port to West Plains LLC. The 3,000,000-bushel capacity grain elevator will handle commodities such as corn, wheat, sorghum (milo), animal feed, DDGS and cotton.
Mike Rowan, president of West Plains Grain, stated, “This is a great opportunity for West Plains to access the fertile markets of Latin America as well as servicing other locations around the world. The process was made very easy for us by the professionals at OmniTRAX and the Port of Brownsville, who provided the expertise needed to make every milestone on our project roadmap.”
The grain elevator is located near the GEOTRAC Industrial Hub being developed by OmniTRAX. The Port of Brownsville and OmniTRAX are currently working together to develop thousands of acres in the area. The land is suited for light and heavy manufacturing, logistics, energy services and export/import warehousing, and has connections to the port and the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway.
“The reactivation of the grain elevator by West Plains is another great example of bringing a commercial operator into the port to build out a vibrant opportunity for the region,” said Kevin Shuba, CEO of OmniTRAX. “We see many more of these public-private partnerships coming in the future helping the GEOTRAC Industrial Hub reach its potential as a world class business site.”
“We are pleased the grain elevator is up and running again,” remarked Eduardo A. Campirano, director and CEO, Port of Brownsville. “It’s proof that the Port of Brownsville and OmniTRAX are moving in the right direction to develop the area into an industrial complex that supports a broad variety of businesses.”
West Plains began renovations in the spring on the previously idle facility. The first train is expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2017 on the OmniTRAX-operated Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, LLC via Union Pacific. This will represent the first grain delivery to the Port in five years.