Keene welcomes Metal Plate as industrial-park work advances

Keene officials welcomed Metal Plate as a new industrial-park tenant and outlined next steps for site and road work. On behalf of the EDCA, a board member said the companys recent groundbreaking is an important step for job creation and long-term economic growth in the community.

City staff told the board the plat for the industrial park has been completed and is under review, and that engineering plans to widen and repair County Road 317 through the park were received and reviewed by public works. The plans will be returned to the city engineer and are expected to be put out for bids with a goal of completing the road work by November, staff said.

Officials said bringing Metal Plate and other manufacturers to the park has increased interest in available land and that the city may need to consider strategies to expand the industrial park footprint as more manufacturing prospects arise. "We're running out of land and may have to get some more," one speaker said, urging future strategy work during budget and planning cycles.

Board members also connected the industrial-park activity to the citys broader capital plans: the sale proceeds from the industrial park increased the citys bank balance and are being used to fund drainage and other infrastructure projects tied to further development. The board did not take a formal vote tied specifically to the Metal Plate project at the meeting; staff said they will proceed with engineering and bidding steps.