MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — For the last two and a half years the city of Mountain Home and the Air Force base have been working together to transfer and old railroad spur from the military to the City of Mountain Home.
This morning that transfer happened and city leaders have a vision to refurbish the tracks in an effort to bring economic development to the Mountain Home.
“Mountain Home as people know has a really strong military government sector and we have a really strong agriculture sector," said Courtney Lewis the economic development director of Mountain Home. "Where we struggle is having the third leg of our stool and having more of a manufacturing and industrial sector.”
The transfer happened because of the cooperation between the Air Force and the city, but it also took an act of Congress, Representative Mike Simpson was instrumental in making that happen.
Although the day's events provided a reason for Mountain Home to celebrate leaders tell us the work is just beginning as the city will attempt to turn a large piece of property into an industrial park built around the railroad spur.
“This is a huge deal, it is the first opportunity we have had of this magnitude," said Lewis. "It is not just good for the city of Mountain Home, it is good for the state of Idaho and we are really excited to see what that means.”
The next step in the process will be gathering public opinions, working with the public to secure more land and bringing the right type of businesses to Mountain Home.
The site has also been selected by Union Pacific as focus sight, which is the only one in the state of Idaho, to learn more about what that means click here.
