Wayne County soon will be home to a new food-grade trailer washout facility to help the area’s growing pet food manufacturing industry meet safety requirements.
At its Oct. 20 meeting, Economic Development Corp. of Wayne County’s board approved a $26,000 grant request toward Milestone Trailer Wash’s more than $2 million upcoming investment. Wayne County’s commissioners also approved the economic development income tax grant during their Oct. 22 meeting.
Milestone Properties LLC plans to spend $82,650 for 5.7 acres in Phase I of Midwest Industrial Park at 0 W. Industries Road in Richmond. The site is just off Interstate 70. Brush manufacturer Osborn is to the south and New Holland Construction is to the east.
The 9,000-square-foot multi-bay facility will provide washouts that are compliant with Food and Drug Administration and Food Safety Modernization Act regulations for transporting goods. FSMA mandates proactive measures to ensure food safety across the supply chain.
Shaffer said EDC has been working with the Eberlein family for several months on their plans, and the company’s owner/general manager, Greg Eberlein of Richmond, said EDC staff had been very helpful. Eberlein said they discovered a significant gap in the supply chain, and the nearest similar wash facility is more than 30 miles away.
Eberlein told EDC that the lack of a washout facility leads to a bottleneck delay for getting raw materials that help facilitate expansions for local manufacturers. The wash facility will help fleets reduce downtime and transportation costs.
He said they talked with outside trucking companies and learned there was a need for their services.
It will also offer non-food-grade cleaning for dry freight and refrigerated trailers.
According to their grant request, by December 2029, they will pay at least six employees an average of $20/hourly, for a minimum gross annual payroll of $252,000 for five years.
New building construction is expected to cost $200,000 this year and $1,850,000 by the end of 2026. Additional expected expenses include new machinery/equipment, furniture, fixtures, computer/information technology hardware and software, for a total investment of $2,362,150.
Personnel updates
EDC is saying goodbye to two employees and welcoming one new one.
Kayla Robinson replaced Renee Doty as marketing and communications manager.
Robinson is a graduate of Indiana University East and Ball State University who has experience as a senior project manager for Indiana Economic Development Corp. Most recently, she was Noblesville’s economic development manager.
Robinson wanted to move back to Wayne County around the time Doty planned to retire after 23 years with the organization.
Doty’s initial position involved grant research, writing and administration for Wayne County and its communities. She helped bring a little over $8 million to Wayne County through various government grant programs for infrastructure projects as well as Cardinal Greenway expansion. Later, she managed two websites and oversaw social media and marketing efforts. Doty played an integral role in creating and expanding the county’s Home in Wayne talent attraction initiative.
Doty said she was grateful for the people she worked with and various opportunities.
“I’ve had a front row seat to many of the amazing things that have happened in Wayne County,” Doty said in a news release. “And I continue to be excited about Wayne County’s future.”
Shaffer said Doty provided consistency through numerous leadership transitions prior to Shaffer’s tenure.
“She is a dedicated and loyal member of our team who has made countless contributions to our economic development efforts,” Shaffer said.
During the meeting, Office Manager Rhonda Fisher announced she is leaving her role at the end of October, and she received many compliments from board members for her work. She joined EDC in November 2021 and said she was initially surprised to learn how many projects the EDC oversees.
A version of this article appeared in the October 29 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.