BROWNSVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OmniTRAX, Inc., one of the largest privately held transportation service companies in North America and an affiliate of The Broe Group, worked closely with the Port of Brownsville to help facilitate the lease of a large grain-handling facility to West Plains LLC at the Port. The 3,000,000-bushel capacity grain elevator, which is located near the GEOTRAC Industrial Hub being developed by OmniTRAX, will create up to eight new jobs for the area.
Renovations on the previously idle facility by West Plains began in the spring with the first train set 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. Commodities to be handled by the operation include corn, wheat, sorghum (milo), animal feed, DDGS and cotton.
“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. 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,” said Kevin Shuba, CEO of OmniTRAX.
“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,” said Mike Rowan, President of West Plains Grain.
The GEOTRAC Industrial Hub is the result of a strategic relationship between the Port of Brownsville and OmniTRAX that is developing thousands of acres for a world-class Industrial Hub. The land, with its infrastructure that connects to the port and the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railway, is well-suited for light and heavy manufacturing, logistics, energy services and export/import warehousing.
“We are pleased the grain elevator is up and running again. 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,” said Eduardo A. Campirano, Port Director & CEO, Port of Brownsville.
About OmniTRAX, Inc.
As one of North America’s largest private railroad and transportation management companies, OmniTRAX's core capabilities range from providing management services to railroad and port services and to intermodal and industrial switching operations. Through its affiliation with The Broe Group and its portfolio of managed companies, OmniTRAX also has the unique capability of offering specialized industrial development and real estate solutions, both on and off the rail network managed by OmniTRAX. More information is available at www.omnitrax.com.
About The Broe Group
The Broe Group, based in Denver, Colorado, is a diversified privately-owned enterprise with a multi-billion dollar asset base. The Broe Group and its affiliates employ more than 1,000 people directly and provide employment for countless others through its Great Western Industrial Park in Northern Colorado. The Broe Group and its affiliates own and/or manage commercial real estate and other businesses across North America. Its transportation affiliate, OmniTRAX, Inc., is a leading transportation services firm with railroad, port and terminal operations, and is the 2nd largest operator of short-line railroads in the U.S. Its energy affiliate, Great Western Oil & Gas Company, is a top 10 driller in Colorado and among the top 100 drillers in the U.S. The Broe Group has multiple other investment affiliates, including Three Leaf Ventures, which is focused on innovative healthcare technology start-ups. For more information, see www.broe.com.
About the Port of Brownsville
The Port of Brownsville, the only deep-water port located on the U.S. and Mexico border, provides a full range of services to ensure efficient and timely cargo delivery worldwide. With abundant land for development and seventeen miles of waterfront access, the Port of Brownsville offers easy access to non-congested international bridge crossings and rail connections to your ultimate destination. The Port of Brownsville is governed by the Brownsville Navigation District, a political subdivision of the State of Texas.
About West Plains LLC
West Plains LLC is an agricultural commodity trading business specializing in warehouse operation, risk management and transportation, with a focus on creating value for the company's producers and consumers. The company owns and operates 25 grain elevators, with approximately 33 million bushels of storage capacity, across five states: Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and Wyoming and has an active merchandising business located in Kansas City, Missouri. West Plains is part of the BioUrja Group of companies, which has a focus on energy and grains commodities supply and trading. To learn more about West Plains, visit www.westplainsllc.com. For more information on the BioUrja Group of companies, visit www.biourja.com.
