TEMPLE, Texas— The Temple Economic Development Corporation (Temple EDC) today announced that Buzzi Unicem USA will expand by adding its 34th cement distribution location in the U.S on a 9-acre tract of land in the Temple Industrial Park located near the intersection of IH-35 and Loop 363 in northwest Temple. The new terminal will cost in excess of $7 million and use at least 1,000 rail cars per year, which will bring additional revenue back to the City of Temple in a revenue sharing agreement with Temple & Central Texas Railway.
The City of Temple and Patriot Rail Corp. formed a rail subsidiary, Temple & Central Texas Railway, with an exclusive long-term license agreement that provides rail switching and other rail-related services to customers in the Temple Industrial Park. As part of the project, Buzzi Unicem USA will add a rail spur—a short secondary rail line that will branch off from the main rail line in Temple. Construction on the project is expected to begin immediately and be complete late 2015.
The Temple EDC Board of Directors approved an economic development agreement that includes a land grant to Buzzi Unicem USA. The City of Temple and Buzzi Unicem USA will share in the cost of infrastructure improvement for construction of a road to access the property.
Headquartered in Bethlehem, PA., Buzzi Unicem USA is one of the leading cement manufacturing companies in the US. The company’s seven cement plants have a production capacity that is in excess of 8 million metric tons.
“Temple is the ideal location for our company because it is a business-friendly city in the middle of one of our largest target markets,” said Richard A. Sutter, Senior Vice President – Sales for Buzzi Unicem USA. “Our new, central location in Temple will enable us to effectively and efficiently serve the large State of Texas.”
“For a company with manufacturing and distribution needs, Temple offers a central location in Texas and a solid transportation infrastructure that includes rail and immediate highway access,”Temple EDC President David Blackburn said. “We are proud to add to our list of growing, established and successful businesses with Buzzi Unicem’s expansion to Temple with a significant investment in our local economy.”
About Temple
Temple, Texas, is a community with a diverse economic base that includes healthcare, distribution and warehousing, and manufacturing as its foundation. Within 200 miles of a population of 19 million, Temple is strategically located 39 minutes north of the Austin Metro Area on I-35, making it central within the Southwest U.S. marketplace. For more information, visit www.choosetemple.com.
