Contacts:
Gati Grundmanis, Department of Transportation,
608-266-3488
Ethnie Groves, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2156
Funding Will Help Big Buck Building Centers Expand
and Create and Retain Jobs in Racine County
Governor Jim Doyle, as part of his “Grow Wisconsin”
initiative, announced today a $325,500 Transportation Economic Assistance
(TEA) grant to the Village of Mount Pleasant. The award represents the
state’s contribution toward transportation improvements in support of an
expansion to Big Buck Building Centers, Inc. to help retain jobs in the
Racine County community.
“The State of Wisconsin is proud to partner with local
governments and businesses on efforts like this that enhance transportation
connections and strengthen our state and local economies,” Governor Doyle
said. “This grant will help maintain quality jobs in southeast Wisconsin as
part of ongoing efforts to create job opportunities throughout the state.”
The $325,500 TEA award covers 50 percent of the costs
associated with construction of a 1,700-foot rail spur off Union Pacific
Railroad tracks, along with the addition of concrete pads to facilitate the
unloading of lumber and other materials. Big Buck is providing a $325,500
match to help complete the overall $651,000 transportation improvement
project.
“This project will create and retain 202 direct, indirect,
or multiplier jobs in the state, and will generate $5.3 million in annual
wages,” Governor Doyle said.
Big Buck is planning a 72,000 square-foot plant expansion in
the Village of Mount Pleasant as part of a total capital investment of $3.1
million. The company evaluated several possible expansion sites in
Wisconsin and Illinois and settled on Mount Pleasant in part due to the
availability of the TEA grant. Founded in 1929, Big Buck is a wholesale
lumberyard and manufacturer of trusses and millwork serving professional
builders and contractors.
Since its creation in 1987, the TEA grant program has
invested more than $59.24 million in 237 projects in Wisconsin. TEA grants
have directly and indirectly helped create or retain 57,334 jobs at 255
businesses throughout the state.
