Contacts: Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661
Project to Retain 543 Jobs, Create 48 Jobs
MADISON – Governor Jim Doyle announced today that Vollrath Company, LLC, of Sheboygan will receive $258,000 in tax credits from the Department of Commerce. The company recently purchased a business competitor from Fort Wayne, Indiana and is consolidating its facilities in Kewaunee, Sheboygan and Menomonee Falls, a project that will retain 543 jobs and create 48 jobs.
“My number one priority this year is helping our businesses create jobs and giving our workers the opportunities to get those jobs,” Governor Doyle said. “My administration is committed to helping companies retain and create good-paying jobs for Wisconsin residents, so I’m pleased that Vollrath Company has chosen to expand in our state.”
Vollrath Company, LLC provides aluminum and stainless steel cookware, steam table pans, utensils, countertop equipment and buffet systems. The products are sold to commercial food service markets throughout the world. The total cost of the consolidation project is $12.5 million.
Since taking office in 2003, Governor Doyle has worked aggressively to create and retain jobs in Wisconsin. Because of Governor Doyle’s leadership, Wisconsin now has some of the most powerful economic development tools in the country – from new tax credits to help manufacturers create and retain jobs, to new tools to help investors create start-ups, to new incentives to spur research and development. As a result of these tax credits, numerous companies have expanded or moved operations from other states to Wisconsin – including Republic Airways in Milwaukee, Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac, and Oshkosh Corporation – creating thousands of new jobs in communities throughout the state.
Governor Doyle has laid out plans to continue building the state’s economy and create jobs, including passing the CORE Jobs Act to build on the Governor’s successful economic development tax credits and strengthen programs for manufacturing, research and development, and worker training. The Governor has also called for passing the Clean Energy Jobs Act to create 16,000 jobs in the emerging clean energy economy and is establishing the Wisconsin Green to Gold Fund to help manufacturers reduce energy costs and create and retain jobs.
Governor Doyle has also worked to improve Wisconsin’s tax ranking and business climate. Today, Wisconsin ranks 30th in business taxes – well below the national average.
