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Show Fveeport Center has been expanding since W, W. II Zz -rr- JZ . I v ?. Lv , - AJZ i , N X" :;i - .:. . . z f 'l-fc-xi . v' -X i tr-osx :-x " XXv XV t X; Xf x By VICKI CROCCO The Fieeport Center in Clearfield Clear-field is still growing. Since World War II when the site was supplier r to the entire Pacific Fleet as the Clearfield Naval Supply Depot, the hreeport Center has been expanding. ex-panding. In 1964, the center was purchased purch-ased by Russell Schumacher and converted to civilian use. The center cen-ter was sold again in 1971 to 1'reeport Center Associates, owned own-ed by Gordon Olch of Boston and Robert O'Block of Utah, and continued con-tinued to be the west's largest distribution dis-tribution point. After the deregulation of the trucking industry, which blasted the railroads out of competition, and because of increased use of computers for inventory control, the trend away from distribution began. In 1980, over 80,000 railroad rail-road cars moved through the center cen-ter distributing products outside Utah. Now, fewer than 5,000 a year are going through. Yet, that hasn't hurt the Freeport Center one bit. In fact, since then, the trend toward manufacturing manu-facturing has increased and is still on the rise. Freeport Center has added over 1 .5 million square feet to its operations, opera-tions, and is planning for another 145 acres' expansion beginning with the north section. Presently, it is at a 95 percent occupancy rate for the center, at between 12 and 24 cents a square foot, according to Stephen Barrett, director of economic development for the Freeport Center. There are over 100 companies manufacturing, warehousing or distributing out of the center, many of which are household names or are locally based. DelMonte, Fram Filters, G.E., General Mills, Hercules, Her-cules, Morton Thiokol, Montgomery Montgom-ery Ward and the Plant Plant are just a few of its tenants. Arrow Dynamics manufactures amusement rides for parks around the world, and Rossignal fixes all the rental skiis for the west at the center. There is everything from light bulbs to cotton balls, and truck trailers to missile casings being produced in Clearfield, and the area certainly feels the effect. The center employs approximately approxi-mately one-tenth of the population of Davis County, as well as generating gener-ating a sizeable chunk of the property prop-erty taxes in the area. The annual payroll exceeds $65 million which circulates throughout Davis County. The assets on the property are estimated at $600 million, according accord-ing to an Ogden newspaper. Manufacturers see Utah as a place to find a productive labor force and open doors as a right-to-work state. Another attraction for businesses is the central location for service to the western United States. Max Factor was one of the largest tenants, but has since left, and All American Foods, which produces the Budget Gourmet frozen foods, has taken their place and continues to be one of the country's strongest growth companies. com-panies. There is a new building going up to house more manufacturing operations oper-ations for Hercules Corporation with April being the target date for another building planned for the far north end of the center. Hercules is one of the largest employers em-ployers in the center, despite the common perception that Magna is the home for Hercules in Utah. Clearfield's Freeport Center has added over 1.5 million square feet to its operation and is planninq for :1 another 145 acre expansion in the future. The industrial park is home for over 100 local and national companies. |