The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) board on Thursday approved its first-ever trigger resolution for the Central Utah Agri-Park Project Area, unlocking reinvestment of new tax revenues to support a growing logistics hub in Juab County.
The resolution targets a 27-acre site near Nephi known as the Nortonville Zone, home to a newly completed 70,000-square-foot rail facility operated by Nortonville Rail Company. The board’s vote enables UIPA and Juab County to begin capturing the increased property tax revenue generated by new construction at the site—revenue that will now be reinvested locally to accelerate additional economic growth.
The primary user of the new facility is CO Building Systems, an Ephraim-based manufacturer that now receives steel shipments via a new rail spur connected to the Union Pacific mainline. The rail access is already reducing heavy truck traffic on Utah highways.
One example highlighted during the meeting was the Current Creek Transformer Project. In the past, oversized power transformers had to be hauled by truck, requiring road closures and slow, overnight movement. With the Nortonville facility, the same components were shipped more efficiently by rail—streamlining logistics while reducing pressure on state infrastructure.
“This is exactly what the Central Utah Agri-Park was built for—supporting rural industries with real, working infrastructure,” said Danny Stewart, Associate Vice President of Regional Project Area Development with UIPA. “We’re already seeing how this rail connection is making a measurable difference for local businesses and for transportation across the state.”
Thursday’s vote follows a similar resolution passed by Juab County and ensures that the benefits of the Nortonville Zone’s growth will be reinvested right back into the area. The decision underscores UIPA’s strategy of targeted infrastructure investments that strengthen local economies while improving Utah’s broader logistics network.
Author: Nick Archambault
Date: 07/02/25