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The ceremony kicking off construction of the new Custom multimodal distribution facility Wednesday right outside Longview gave a nod to the past, but the new center and the services it will offer are all about the company性视界传媒檚 future and the future of East Texas.

During the Golden Spike ceremony, representatives of Custom, other people who have had a hand in the project and local officials gathered around a short track built as a prop for the event. Then, Dan Guido, vice president of Via Rail Engineering, which is working on the project, demonstrated how they should lean over the track with the approximately 16-pound mallets in front of them and hammer in the gold-colored spikes on the track.

The traditional celebration copied the one that marked the completion of the nation性视界传媒檚 first transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit in Utah.

性视界传媒淭oday, we stand on the threshold for a new era in our company性视界传媒檚 growth and development as we break ground on what will become a state of the art multimodal distribution facility,性视界传媒� said David L. Stevenson, president and CEO of Custom. He started the company with his father, Bill, in 1985 in Gilmer.

性视界传媒淭his project represents a lot more than just bricks and mortar, or rather, tracks and pavement,性视界传媒� he continued. 性视界传媒淚t symbolizes progress, innovation and opportunity. This new facility will not only enhance our transportation infrastructure, but also create jobs, stimulate economic growth and improve quality of life for residents and businesses alike.性视界传媒�

The facility will serve as a 性视界传媒渉ub of connectivity性视界传媒� that will help reduce traffic congestion and promote 性视界传媒渟ustainable building性视界传媒� practices.

性视界传媒淭he economic benefits of this project are substantial,性视界传媒� Stevenson said. It will ultimately represent an approximately $75-million investment that will offer rail and trucking access for goods moving around locally and nationally, to, from and through Longview. Custom性视界传媒檚 new center also will offer storage and warehousing services and railcar and trailer washing,

The construction phase, which will be completed in several parts, will create dozens of jobs. His firm, which has multiple locations around the country, employs about 350 people, including about 150 people locally. The Gilmer headquarters does not have rail access, but the company has 10 other depots around the country. The one just outside the Longview city limits off Estes Parkway and south of Interstate 20 will be the largest.

The project will include construction of a rail spur connecting the facility to a nearby Union Pacific line that will allow Custom to send and receive goods by rail 性视界传媒� in tanker or hopper cars, for instance. The facility also provides easy access for large freight trucks.

It性视界传媒檚 likely that Carl Estes, a former publisher of the 性视界传媒, would approve of the Custom facility that is under construction on about 175 acres that was once home to his ranch. The actual home that was located there had deteriorated over the years and was demolished for this project. The ceremony on Wednesday took place about where his home was once located.

Estes was known for his work to help Longview grow by recruiting some of the city性视界传媒檚 major employers to the city, including Eastman Chemical Co. and what is today性视界传媒檚 Komatsu. Both companies are also along Estes Parkway.

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性视界传媒淥nce operational, this ... depot will attract new businesses, support existing ones, and enhance our competitiveness in a global market,性视界传媒� Stevenson said. 性视界传媒淭his project will also act as a catalyst for further development, sparking a ripple effect of prosperity throughout the region. We are committed to ensuring that this project benefits the community in every possible way. We性视界传媒檝e engaged with local residents to address their concerns and incorporate their feedback into our planning.

性视界传媒淭his multimodal distribution facility will be a testament to what we can achieve when we work together. Additionally, sustainability is at the heart of our project. We are incorporating the latest green technologies to minimize environmental impact and ensure that our operations are eco friendly as possible, from the energy efficient building designs to advanced waste management systems. We are setting new standards in environmental responsibilities and transportation sector.性视界传媒�

Dan McLaughlin, assistant vice president for commercial operations at Union Pacific, said its commitment to safety and 性视界传媒渃onsistent, reliable service性视界传媒� line up with Custom性视界传媒檚 values.

性视界传媒淩ail is an essential part of our economy, and it enables us to compete in global markets,性视界传媒� McLaughlin said. 性视界传媒淥ur nation has the most efficient freight rail network in the world, and Texas is the backbone of Union Pacific in North America. The investment that Custom is making here today is a testament to their belief in the future of rail, the local economy and the overall U.S. economy.性视界传媒�

During Wednesday性视界传媒檚 ceremony, Stevenson also presented a $25,000 donation to The Boys and Girls of the Big Pines, with CEO Chad Patterson on hand to accept the funds. Stevenson praised the organization and said Custom provides volunteer time and financially support for the nonprofit organization.

The Estes Parkway center will eventually consist of multiple buildings and warehouse facilities, starting with one that will be about 100,000-square-feet. Ultimately, the facility will have a capacity of more than 630 railcars, with staging for 100 trucks and the ability to transload more than 2,500 railcars annually, goods from railcars to trucks, for instance.

David L. Stevenson性视界传媒檚 son, David A. Stevenson, the company性视界传媒檚 executive vice president of sales and marketing, also announced the company性视界传媒檚 rebranding Wednesday. Previously known as Custom Commodities, it is now Custom. He noted the new logo moves all the companies that Custom has acquired under one brand.

Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt talked Wednesday about his long-term belief that the county is ideally positioned for distribution and logistics, noting the location of companies such as Gap Inc. in Longview.

性视界传媒淚t is because of the logistics and the distribution values of 性视界传媒� east, west, north, south 性视界传媒� transportation of all kind of products, and this today, with Custom announcing their new expansion, it性视界传媒檚 another example of the future for Gregg County and East Texas,性视界传媒� and that is more and more companies recognizing what is so special about this area, Stoudt said.

Wayne Mansfield, president and CEO of Longview Economic Development Corp., said he性视界传媒檚 not aware of any similar facilities in this area that are of the size and scope of the Estes Parkway facility.

性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 going to be a boon for our economic activity,性视界传媒� he said, and it represents a 性视界传媒渟ignificant investment性视界传媒� in South Longview that will serve existing industries and attract new ones to the city.