Target Drops Plan for Marion Distribution Center

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The downturn in the national economy has claimed another victim.

The proposed Target Distribution Center that had been rumored to be locating east of Marion has been scrapped by the company due to the current economic recession.

Marion was one of two finalists in obtaining the center that would have provided 600 jobs to the local economy, but Target was forced to drop plans to build the center, along with several other proposed expansions.

"This is very disappointing to us, but not totally unexpected," Mayor Robert Butler said. "We still have the property and the improvements that have been made, and we will continue to look for someone to build."

Several impact studies had been completed and upgrading of the infrastructure around the proposed site had begun. All of these improvements will help to lure another company to the area according to Butler.

City Engineer Glenn Clarida said that the news was a great disappointment to all who had worked so hard to make the project work.

"It is not like the City of Marion lost out to another area," Clarida said. "Target has decided not to building the distribution center at all. It is a reflection of the economic times."

On a more positive note, the City of West Frankfort this morning celebrated the opening of a new FedEx distribution center in the West Frankfort industrial park, formerly the Mark Twain boat plant. That ribbon-cutting was held at 11:30 a.m.