Greeley, Weld work together on sub-area’s future

GREELEY – Greeley and Weld County planners are asking the public to help shape a vision for a rail-served area that could produce the same kind of economic benefits seen in nearby Windsor.

The Great Western Railroad runs diagonally through the 15,600-acre area now primarily used for agriculture and sand and gravel operations. Just to the west, the short-line railroad has helped bring some big new manufacturers with high-paying jobs to Windsor, including wind-turbine maker Vestas, glass bottle producer Owens-Illinois, structural materials supplier Hexcel and ethanol distiller Front Range Energy.

On Nov. 19 a public open house brought a stream of local…