Congressman Kinzinger tours Colo Railroad Builders’ Minooka facility

U.S. Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member Colo Railroad Builders on Dec. 4, 2015 for a tour of its new facility in Minooka, Ill.

CEO of Colo Railroad Builders M.D. (Mike) Stolzman gave an overview of Colo Railroad Builders and its current operations. Since 1979, Colo has been a leader in new track construction rehabilitation and maintenance for railroads and private industry. Colo’s capabilities and services include: production of rail and tie gangs; production surfacing; new construction; track rehabilitation; panel turnout construction and installation; track inspection and reporting; tailored maintenance programs; and track pick-up and removal. Colo also maintains a fleet of over 200 pieces of specialized equipment from spikers to tampers to cranes. Colo primarily serves the greater Midwest, but its operations extend across the United States. Its corporate offices are in Houston.

Stolzman led a tour of Colo’s new facility, which was recently relocated from Romeoville, Ill. The facility, which opened in August of this year, has a 2,000 square foot office and a 4,000 square foot shop, and employs 35 people. It is estimated to bring in $12 million of the Houston-based company’s $30 million in revenue this year.

Attendees discussed the importance of extending the 45G tax credit, which leverages private sector investment in rail infrastructure by providing a tax credit of 50 cents for every dollar spent on track improvements. The Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015, also known as H.R. 721, was introduced in February, and has over 50% co-sponsorship in the House with 247 co-sponsors, including Congressman Kinzinger. H.R. 721 would extend section 45G of the tax code, which expired at the end of last year.

Attendees included M.D. (Mike) Stolzman, CEO of Colo Railroad Builders; Conrad McMillin, General Manager – Northern Region, at Colo Railroad Builders; Travis McCormick, General Manager – Southern Region, at Colo Railroad Builders; Rachel Burns, Director of Marketing and Sales at Colo Railroad Builders; Freddy Cordero, Controller at Colo Railroad Builders; Shirley McCoy, Director of Human Resources at Colo Railroad Builders; Pat Brennan, Mayor of Minnoka, Ill.; Jessica Barr, Chief of Staff for State Rep. John Anthony (R-Joliet); O.J. Stoutner, Legislative Aide for State Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris); and Lindsey Collins, VP of Grassroots Advocacy at NRC.

“Thank you to the team at Colo Railroad Builders for a fantastic tour of their new facility in Minooka. Rail transportation is important to the entire state of Illinois, and Colo’s operations will benefit not only the immediate region, but the entire 16th district,” Kinzinger said. “I was glad to speak with them about this week’s passage of the first long-term surface transportation bill in ten years, and how it will improve our nation’s rail infrastructure, enhance rail safety, accelerate rail project delivery, and leverage innovative financing.”

Congressman Kinzinger was first sworn into the United States House of Representatives in January 2011. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He also served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee during the 113th Congress. Kinzinger serves as a Deputy Republican Whip. At the age of 37, he is one of the youngest Members of Congress and was named one of Time Magazine’s 40 under 40 “Rising stars in American politics.”