A developer is planning a new industrial center on 2,300 acres between Fernley and Fallon. The Churchill Hazen Industrial Park would be built on the south side of U.S. 50A, next to the Mina railroad line. The developer says Churchill County is a great place to build the industrial center.
"Just a beautiful county blessed with the Carson Sink, blessed with the Stillwater Refuge, all the wildlife habitat," Tim Tucker, Owner of TOT LLC said.
Officials say Hazen is an ideal location for the industrial park because it has a major highway and a rail going through it. That would be beneficial for manufacturing, warehousing and distribution.
"It's a very flat, buildable area along the rail, along the highway," Jim R. Barbee, County Manager of Churchill County said. "We feel like it's a perfect spot to put in some new developments."
The industrial park is about halfway between Fernley and Fallon, so it would be a short commute for residents of both cities. Barbee says the park would also help diversify the economy of the two towns, Lyon County and Churchill County. Fallon's economy is largely based on the Naval Air Station, agriculture and geothermal energy. The area is also seeing the affects from the booming economy in other parts of northern Nevada.
"The economy is really regional and we're seeing that region is really tilting over into Churchill County and we're being a part of that industrial growth that we have in the region," Barbee said.
Tucker is partnering with Reno businessman and developer Harvey Whittemore on the property. They say CHIP could become an industrial hub for 11 western states, and that companies could deliver goods to 80 percent of the major western markets, overnight. It could include a variety of companies.
"New manufactures that come in, build the building that they want to build, have the features and benefits that they want to use and employ in the manufacturing process," Tucker said.
Fallon is already seeing an economic boom. Barbee says building permits are on the rise and so is tax revenue. Housing developments are also happening in some parts of town.
"We do have a housing shortage currently in Churchill County and in Fallon so by having more jobs, creating more economic activity here in the county, that's only going to help tilt over to get some of those developers to do those kinds of developments we're looking for," Barbee said.
Barbee says the land in Hazen is almost ready to go. Churchill County is waiting for a grant to connect water and sewer to the industrial park. Once that happens, construction would likely begin.
Barbee says the additional jobs and people could bring some growing pains but he is confident that the city and county will adapt to the growth, improving infrastructure as it is needed.
"We have a wonderful community, a wonderful downtown, a wonderful hometown feeling here in Fallon and it would just build on that," Barbee said.
Barbee says one of the next steps for Fallon is to build more developments, including multi-family units to keep up with population growth. He expects even more development to follow, including new businesses and hotels.
For a link to the CHIP website:Â https://churchillhazenindustrialpark.com/
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