(The Associated Press circulated the following on December 17.)
MARION, N.C. — Western North Carolina could become home to a port city.
Although hundreds of miles from the coast, researchers are looking at the region for an inland port where oceangoing containers would be moved between trucks and trains.
The CSX and Norfolk Southern railroads converge in Marion, and Interstate 40 cuts through the region just south of town. If chosen, town officials say the port could drive economic growth.
In Virginia, Port Authority spokesman Joe Harris said businesses have flocked to the area since a port opened in Front Royal.
Researchers doing the $250,000 taxpayer study plan to be at the Virginia Inland Port on Tuesday. Next year, they plan to visit Marion, which is about 35 miles east of Asheville.