Gov. Doyle: Governor Announces $1 Million Transportation Economic Assistance Grant for Wausau

Contacts:
Gati Grundmanis, Department of Transportation, 608-266-3488

Ethnie Groves, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156

Grant Will Help Create Good, Family Supporting Jobs and Generate Wages

WAUSAU – Governor Jim Doyle announced a $1 million
Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grant for Wausau today. The grant
provides the state’s contribution to help support expanding operations at
the WPS Health Insurance facilities in Wausau and to create jobs in the
community.

“Investing in quality transportation is vital for businesses
that are looking to expand in Wisconsin,” Governor Doyle said. “With this
funding, we are helping to add good, family supporting jobs here in Wausau
while improving access to WPS.”

The $1 million grant, the maximum amount allowed under the
TEA grant program, covers 37 percent of the costs toward reconstructing,
widening, realigning, and extending 20th Avenue between Bridge Street and
County U. The city is providing a 63 percent match of $1,736,000. The
project has a total cost of $2,736,000.

“This announcement is a great example of how state and local
governments can partner with private industry to help make a difference in a
community,” Governor Doyle said. “TEA grants are one of the tools that
communities across our state can use to help attract and retain jobs.”

Governor Doyle said that the grant is an investment that
directly and indirectly creates nearly 1,200 jobs at WPS facilities in
Wausau and Madison resulting in millions of dollars in annual wages.

WPS is planning to lease up to 100,000 square feet of space
in Wausau.

WPS is a service insurance corporation offering
hospitalization, surgical-medical, and major medical insurance to
Wisconsin-based subscribers and to non-Wisconsin subscribers through
reinsurance.