RAILTOWNS.ORG
Sep 5, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Norfolk Southern Grants Funding to Railtowns.org for Safe, Accessible and Thriving Rail-Connected Communities
Washington, DC, September 5, 2024: — Railtowns.org, a driving force for positive change in rail-connected communities and the rail industry they host, is the recipient of a substantial grant from Norfolk Southern’s Safety First Grant Program.
Norfolk Southern’s funding will help establish a Regional Railtowns Summit in 2025—an event poised to tackle the unique challenges and vast opportunities facing rail communities in the United States. The summit will advance safety, planning, and viability issues, ensuring that our railtowns are not only safe but also positioned for lasting prosperity.
“With a history spanning more than 200 years across thousands of communities, Norfolk Southern is proud to be a part of the towns, cities, and states we serve,” said Kristin Wong, Director Corporate Giving at Norfolk Southern. “Norfolk Southern employees live, work, and play in every community across our network, and we are committed to seeing those communities thrive.”
Tate Linden, Co-Executive Director - Strategy & Policy at Railtowns.org, highlighted the transformative nature of this funding: “We’re exceptionally grateful to the Corporate Giving team at Norfolk Southern for their support, and have already begun working with our corporate contact to ensure that our event and the funding that enables it will bring tangible benefits to Norfolk Southern’s communities and others served by rail in the region. Every cent and second of their support and engagement will go towards making the event a success.”
About Railtowns.org
Railtowns.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment and sustainability of rail-connected communities across the United States. By partnering with local leaders, industry stakeholders, and policymakers, Railtowns.org identifies key challenges, seeks out innovative solutions, and identifies the funding necessary to enhance safety, accessibility, and quality of life in railtowns. Through initiatives like regional summits, community-led testing programs, and ongoing advocacy and education, Railtowns.org is committed to fostering thriving, resilient rail-connected communities that are integral to the nation’s transportation infrastructure. Learn more at www.railtowns.org.
About Norfolk Southern
Since 1827, Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) and its predecessor companies have safely moved the goods and materials that drive the U.S. economy. Today, it operates a customer-centric and operations-driven freight transportation network. Committed to furthering sustainability, Norfolk Southern helps its customers avoid approximately 15 million tons of yearly carbon emissions by shipping via rail. Its dedicated team members deliver more than 7 million carloads annually, from agriculture to consumer goods, and is the largest rail shipper of auto products and metals in North America. Norfolk Southern also has the most extensive intermodal network in the eastern U.S., serving a majority of the country's population and manufacturing base, with connections to every major container port on the Atlantic coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. Learn more by visiting www.NorfolkSouthern.com.
Inquiries:
Railtowns - Britni Eisenmann
co-Executive Director - Operations