Community Support

Norfolk Southern is committed to helping East Palestine and the surrounding communities in Pennsylvania recover and thrive. Learn more about our commitments and efforts to invest in the citizens, businesses, and life of these communities.

Family Assistance Center

Our Address:

248 North Market Street
East Palestine, OH 44413

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Making a Difference in East Palestine

$1.4M+ Supporting Education Services

We have committed more than $1.1 million directly to the East Palestine School System, including support to the district’s academics, athletics, and extra-curricular activities. Additional contributions are funding community engagement efforts and requested reimbursements.

Development of Historic Train Depot

We restored Norfolk Southern’s historic East Palestine train depot and donated the structure to the Village, along with a $100,000 grant for the Village to customize the interior to fulfill the community’s intended use of the building.

$5M+ Funding Drinking Water

We are protecting East Palestine residents by committing $5 million to overhauling the municipal water drinking system.

$500K on Economic Development

These funds are being used to pay for an independent, private-sector economic development consultant who will be hired by and work for the Village.

$25M in Upgrades to the East Palestine City Park

The improvements will benefit the entire community for years to come. Enhancements to the park include a new aquatic center, three new playgrounds, upgraded baseball fields, a new amphitheater, and more.

Our Partnership in Action

NS committed more than $3 million to the East Palestine Fire Department.

In 2023, community leaders and NS organized a Day of Service. Around 200 community members and NS employees came together to encourage citizens to give back to their hometown.

NS partnered with the East Palestine Garden Club for their annual Home Tours. The team decorated the field office for the holidays and helped raise funds for the Garden Club’s ongoing projects in the village.

To provide some fun for the community, NS sponsored the annual East Palestine street fair by making the fair and rides free for the public and adding five additional attractions than previous years.

NS partnered with the East Palestine PTO to donate book vending machines to the East Palestine School District.

NS coordinated therapy bunnies to visit more than 300 students and teachers at East Palestine Elementary School.

Additional Support

$2M+ to establish the State of Ohio medical facility in East Palestine and reimburse the State of Ohio directly for the care the patients have received at the East Palestine Clinic. The State of Ohio opened the permanent clinic in April of 2023 and has provided accessible medical services and screenings for residents and first responders.

$1.8M in funding to a local East Palestine clinical counseling and wellness practice to support the mental well-being of the local residents surrounding communities.

$534,000 addressing mental health issues via a state-run East Palestine Resiliency Center.

Supported the East Palestine Community Foundation with a $300,000 donation. The Community Foundation coordinates support for a wide range of nonprofit organizations and community-wide projects.

Reimbursed and committed to the East Palestine Fire Department over $3M for fire equipment used in the derailment response.

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.

Committed to providing East Palestine City School District with $75,000 annually over the next 10 years ($750,000 total) for community relations support.

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.

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.

Making a Difference in Pennsylvania

NS held an appreciation dinner for PA first responders and provided a thank you gift. Over 80 first responders attended.

NS is supporting local fire departments with reimbursements for associated costs.

Environmental testing is ongoing, including sampling and testing of soil and water.

NS has established local relief funds to benefit impacted residents and businesses.

Committing $9.2M in Additional Support

A $5 million fund to reimburse local fire departments for costs associated with derailment response.

A $1 million Community Relief Fund to provide support to businesses that have experienced losses as a result of the incident.

A $1 million donation to The Pittsburgh Foundation, supporting their mission of promoting responsible philanthropy and connecting donors to critical needs in the community.

$950,000 to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to cover costs associated with sampling and testing. This includes $300,000 for expenses already incurred and at least $650,000 for staff time in connection with the Unilateral Administrative Order (“UAO”) issued by US EPA and environmental sampling and testing required pursuant to the UAO.

$400,000 to the Pennsylvania Department of Health to cover costs incurred for the operation of the state’s Health Resources Center and the state’s Poison Control Call Line.

$30,000 to Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (“PEMA”).

Norfolk Southern is committed to further funding and cooperating with Pennsylvania communities near East Palestine on additional emergency preparedness training.

Donated $25K to American Red Cross disaster relief fund to provide immediate support for day-one shelters.