Through a partnership with the town, the land bank will work to stabilize the long-vacant leather processing facility, address site conditions and prepare the property for future reinvestment.
Construction of housing complexes next to the Irving Tanning Community Center has increased demand for its programs, which also serve nearby Palmyra and St. Albans.
The Kentucky-based owner, Tasman Leather Group, intends to close the plant by late summer. The coronavirus crisis has had a "devastating impact" on demand for its products, Tasman says.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration has awarded $1.9 million to the town of Hartland to make critical water infrastructure improvements needed to support the region's business community.