Ports of Indiana signs extended purchase agreement on site for potential fourth port

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 Indiana - Burns Harbor aerial
An aerial view of the Ports of Indiana – Burns Harbor/Portage facility. The state said the Ports of Indiana signed a six-month extension on its option to buy land near Lawrenceburg in southeastern Indiana on the Ohio River, which could serve as the state’s fourth port. (Photo provided by the Ports of Indiana)

The Ports of Indiana has signed an agreement to extend the option to purchase land near Lawrenceburg in southeastern Indiana on the Ohio River, which could serve as the state’s fourth port.

The Ports of Indiana in September 2017 entered an agreement to buy up to 725 acres of land once occupied by the American Electric Power plant. That option was set to expire Dec. 31, 2018.

The state said in a Nov. 8 statement that the new agreement provides an extension up to six months, through June 30, 2019, for the seller, Tanners Creek Development LLC, to finalize environmental work plans for the land.

The state said If the Ports of Indiana decides to move forward, the total cost for the land and equipment would be about $8 million. The property has the potential to spur the economy of southeast Indiana by providing new jobs, multimodal connections to world markets, and development opportunities.

Indiana has three state ports operating on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan, with locations in Jeffersonville, Mount Vernon and Burns Harbor/Portage.

The state said Indiana has not opened a new port since 1985. Through the years, the Ports of Indiana has expanded each of its ports and now operates approximately 2,800 acres along Indiana’s navigable waterways.

Indiana’s ports contribute more than $7.8 billion annually to the state's economy and supports nearly 60,000 jobs, the state said.

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  • Larry Avila
    Larry is an award-winning journalist with more than 25 years of experience working with daily newspapers and business-to-business publications around the Midwest. Avila is a Michigan native and a graduate of Central Michigan University.
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