Mills Crossing Mega Site Awarded Certified Designation By BNSF

Map of BNSF Railroad's Certified Sites across the United States.

The Mega Site is located east of Glenwood, along U.S. Highway 34.
The Mills Crossing Mega Site being developed by MidAmerican Energy near Glenwood has earned the location a Certified Site designation from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. Glenwood, Fort Madison and De Soto, Kan., were awarded the railroad’s Certified Site designation last week.
“We are pleased to add these three new locations to our list of growing certified sites across BNSF’s network,” said Chris Danos, assistant vice president of economic development. “It’s a win-win for our customers who are ready to develop their business offerings through rail, saving them several months of construction time.”
To be considered for the BNSF designation, railroad officials say the sites must undergo a thorough analysis, which includes an evaluation of environmental and geotechnical standards, available utilities, site availability and existing and proposed infrastructure. An industry expert reviews BNSF Certified Sites to ensure accurate, reliable data. The goal of the program is to provide an inventory of rail-served sites that are available for immediate development.
Mills Crossing is a 1,600-plus acre area east of the Glenwood city limits and included in the Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Mills Crossing was named a Mega Site by the Iowa Economic Development Authority in 2022. The site is located on a BNSF Railway dual track main line and is minutes from I-29 and I-80 via four-lane U.S. Highway 34. The site has approximately 1,641 acres, including 1,338 contiguous, developable acres. As a certified mega site, Mills Crossing offers prospective users a strategic advantage for rapid development, access to a population center of one million-plus people and a centralized location in the U.S. connected to markets and ports throughout the country.
Mills County Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Andrew Rainbolt said the BNSF designation should be a boost to local economic development efforts.
“The BNSF Certification is another feather in our cap for the Mills Crossing Mega Site,” Rainbolt said. “This should help us reach additional potential prospects and help give them the confidence that the site ready to meet the needs of a large-scale industrial project.
“The main benefit for Mills County is that this helps us stand out in the small but competitive mega site market.”
In addition to Glenwood, the Fort Madison site is 128-acre area with116 contiguous acres available for development. It is located off 4-lane US Highway 61 and is identified as a future economic development growth area for industry in the Fort Madison strategic plan. This site is also certified by the Iowa Economic Development Authority.
Astra Enterprise Park in De Soto, Kansas is zoned Light Industrial. The 205-acre site is located near the BNSF mainline with quick access to both Lawrence and Kansas City. De Soto is also a part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Statistical Area. While only 205 acres have been certified additional acreage will be available at the site as well.
BNSF currently has 35 Certified Sites across the nation.