The state-owned

North Carolina Railroad Co.

will provide up to $600,000 for the construction of a rail spur at

US Forged Rings Inc.

's (USFR) planned steel fabrication plant in Hertford County, NCRR announced yesterday.

USFR plans to build the facility in three phases at a total investment cost of $875 million, not including contributions from NCRR, CSX, North Carolina and Hertford County government and economic development commissions. It will be located adjacent to a Nucor steel processing facility in the same county, according to a press release issued yesterday from the office of North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein.

USFR will fabricate steep piping and specialized components for the U.S. energy industry at the site, NCRR officials said in a separate press release. Once operational, the USFR plant will receive and ship at least 1,825 rail cars on the spur each year. An opening date was not included in either press release.

The rail aspect involves placement of ballast, ties and rail turnouts, along with any engineering, drainage and signal work necessary to serve the site. The spur is funded through the NCRR Invests program, which uses the railroad's private revenue to fund rail projects that attracts new employers and expands existing industries in the state, NCRR officials said.

"We’re building opportunity in Hertford County; we’re strengthening North Carolina’s manufacturing footprint, and we’re making sure this state is ready for long-term growth driven by freight rail," said NCRR President and CEO Carl Warren.

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