Great Dane needs more space to park its completed trailers before they’re delivered to customers.
The city of Kewanee has space available in its industrial park across Kentville Road from Great Dane’s plant.
The city and the company should be able to make a deal that would expand the trailer-parking space in the industrial park by about 20 acres, Mayor Gary Moore said.
At Monday’s City Council meeting, Kewanee Economic Development Corp. Executive Director Kathy Albert gave a report, in which she spoke at length about the importance not just of attracting new businesses to Kewanee, but of retaining the businesses that are already here.
Albert spoke about Great Dane wanting to expand its facilities, and the need for company and city officials to work together to make that happen.
Moore said Tuesday that this cooperation is taking place.
He said Great Dane would have preferred to buy land just east of its plant. Trailers could be stored there without crossing Kentville Road.
But the company couldn’t acquire that land, and approached the city about adding to its space in the industrial park.
“We’re fine with that,” the mayor said.
He said the city can provide the space Great Dane needs, which will still leave room for the cannabis grow operation that’s planned at the corner of Cole Street and Railroad Avenue, as well as for other prospective purchasers of land in the industrial park.
