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.

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

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.

On June 17, 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.

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.

Provided 10 kindles to the East Palestine Elementary literacy night fundraiser to help increase the amount raised.

NS delivering 100 bouquets from a local florist to residents of local assisted living facilities.

NS has committed more than $2.7 million to the East Palestine Fire Department.