Community Support
Norfolk Southern is committed to helping the community of East Palestine recover and thrive. In addition to the financial support provided by our Family Assistance Center, the following commitments are some of the ways NS is further investing in the citizens, businesses, and life of this community.
Our New Address is
248 North Market Street East Palestine, OH 44413
East Palestine Train Depot DONATED TO the Village
In 2023, NS unveiled plans to donate the company’s historic East Palestine Train Depot to the Village while providing a $100,000 grant supporting its development. Renovation is scheduled to be completed in coming weeks; at which time the Village will continue partnering with an economic development firm to determine the facility’s use moving forward.
Norfolk Southern to fund More than $5 million as part of long-term commitment to protect East Palestine drinking water
Funds will be used to overhaul the municipal water drinking system.
Norfolk Southern to spend $500K on East Palestine’s economic development
Funds will pay for an independent, private-sector economic development consultant who will be hired by and work for the village.
NS to fund $25 million in upgrades to the East Palestine City Park
Norfolk Southern will fund more than $25 million for upgrades and improvements to the East Palestine City Park. Enhancements to the park include a new aquatic center, three new playgrounds, upgraded baseball fields, a new amphitheater, and more. The improvements will benefit the entire community for years to come.
NS partnered with Compco and United Way of Columbiana County to put on the Road2Recovery event, which raised more than $140,000 for various youth organizations in East Palestine.
NS organized a Summer Kick-off event June 11 at the park for the East Palestine youth and surrounding communities. More than 1,000 community members attended to enjoy bounce houses, live music, games, giveaways, and more.
Held an appreciation “Wing Bash” for EP first responders. Utilized local restaurants and vendors to support their revenue.
Completed the mulching of the elementary school playground.
Provided 50 haircut vouchers to a local church to support a local hair salon that lost revenue.
Paid the annual dues for an app used by the Order of the Eagles, an organization that sits 3,000 ft from the derailment site. Funds for the app are normally donated by local businesses.
Held an appreciation dinner for PA first responders and provided a thank you gift. Over 80 first responders attended.
Norfolk Southern supported the East Palestine Community Foundation with a $300,000 donation. The Community Foundation coordinates support for a wide range of nonprofit organizations, including churches, schools, and the East Palestine Firefighters Association. The foundation also supports community-wide projects such as the children’s splash pad at the community pool, the disc golf course at the East Palestine City Park and the annual Fourth of July fireworks display presented by firefighters.
To help support East Palestine for the long-term, Norfolk Southern donated $250,000 to The Way Station, an Ohio-based nonprofit delivering aid to the East Palestine community. This donation will help The Way Station establish a larger, permanent location in the area and hire additional staff, including a social worker.
NS committed $9.1M to Pennsylvania community support to cover costs incurred by state agencies and local fire departments that responded to the derailment. Included in that total is a $1 million community relief fund established for businesses and residents in Pennsylvania communities near East Palestine who lost revenue as a result of the incident.
To better support first responders, Norfolk Southern will create a new regional training center in Ohio for first responders. Additionally, we will expand our Operation Awareness & Response (OAR) program, which travels our 22-state network and trains first responders on how to respond safely to rail incidents.
Reimbursed and committed to the East Palestine Fire Department over $3M for fire equipment used in the derailment response.
Donated $300K to support the district’s academics, athletics, extra-curricular activities, and its long-term contingency planning regarding the impacts of the derailment for the East Palestine school district
Funded administrative support services for the East Palestine Fire Department
Purchased 100 floral arrangements from a local florist to replace lost business; arrangements to be distributed to residents of local nursing home and assisted living facility
Contracted local landscaper to replace the mulch at the East Palestine Elementary school playground; project expected to be complete by March 13
Provided coach buses to transport the East Palestine High School basketball team to their playoff game in Perry; used a local vendor to create signs and coordinated with the East Palestine fire and police departments to see the team out of town
Delivered an additional 21 pallets of water to the community
Created a Community Liaison position and hired a local NS employee and East Palestine resident to gather community input from residents and local businesses and oversee distribution of $1M
Established $1M Community Fund to support immediate community needs in East Palestine
Coordinated and funded cleaning and air monitoring services for the East Palestine Elementary and High Schools
Provided more than 100 air purifiers for residents to use in their homes
Provided $220,000 to the East Palestine fire department to replace self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) air packs, which allow firefighters to breathe compressed air when responding to fires
Purchased cases of water from a local vendor for community distribution
Donated $25K to American Red Cross disaster relief fund to provide immediate support for day-one shelters
