The North Carolina Railroad Company (NCRR) on Aug. 6 reported partnering with engineering and environmental consulting firm Terracon to launch a new economic development program that “aims to preserve and restore North Carolina’s wetlands while balancing the needs of our state’s growing economy and future industrial development projects.”
“By connecting economic and industrial developers with wetland mitigation credits, the [Wetland Mitigation] program will encourage environmental regulatory compliance, streamline the permitting process, and maximize land use and cost savings for new projects, thereby encouraging future investments in the state’s economy,” according to NCRR, a private railroad company that describes itself as owning and managing 317 miles of rail corridor and working “closely with public and private partners to find the best rail-centric solutions to bring business to the state.”
The Wetland Mitigation program is NCRR’s fifth economic development program. It also offers NCRR Invests and Build Ready Sites, as well as Brownfields and Microgrants, which debuted earlier this year. The programs, NCRR said, “allow for investment funding for site development, engineering, design, construction, and other costs of rail infrastructure needs and/or location expansion, to increase job creation, boost freight rail usage, and promote economic growth.”
“Integrating sustainable principles into economic development isn’st just a choice, but a pathway to balanced prosperity,” said Trish Haver, who last fall joined NCRR as Chief Commercial Officer. “True progress harmonizes environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and sound governance, creating a future where growth and well-being go hand in hand. By partnering with Terracon, this [Wetlands Mitigation] program will drive meaningful advancements in wetland preservation and restoration throughout North Carolina, all while supporting economic development across the state.”
In a related development, NCRR in April introduced a new flagging, safety and protection service.
