Contacts: Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661
Project Will Create 315 Full-Time Jobs
PULASKI – Governor Jim Doyle announced today that the state will provide Marquis Yachts, LLC with up to $1.5 million in loans from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program of the Department of Commerce. The funding will help the company complete a $5.75 million acquisition which will create 315 full-time jobs in the Pulaski area.
“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. “I am pleased that we could provide this assistance to Marquis Yachts to help them grow and provide good family-supporting jobs in northeastern Wisconsin.”
The $1.5 million award is from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, a flexible program that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. The CDBG program works to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses. CDBG is an important tool for helping local governments address serious challenges facing their communities.
Marquis Yachts, LLC is a premier builder of world class yachts, marketed as Carver Yachts and Marquis Yachts. The Carver brand was established in 1954, manufacturing custom small boats, eventually expanding to offer larger cabin cruisers and yachts. The Marquis brand was established in 2003 to produce larger premium yachts. The yachts will be manufactured in Pulaski in a modern, well-equipped campus style facility with over 600,000 square feet. The yachts are sold and serviced through a worldwide network of dealers.
Since taking office in 2003, Governor Doyle has worked aggressively to create and retain jobs in Wisconsin. Governor Doyle’s budget last year created some of the strongest economic development tools in the nation to help businesses create jobs and get people back to work. Wisconsin now has powerful new tax credits to help manufacturers create and retain jobs, new tools to help investors create start-ups, and new incentives to spur research and development. Governor Doyle’s efforts have helped Wisconsin companies expand and create thousands of new jobs in communities throughout the state.
Last month, Governor Doyle signed the CORE Jobs Act to build on the Governor’s Accelerate Wisconsin plan by creating and expanding a number of tax credit programs for angel and venture capital investments. The bill also strengthens successful programs for manufacturing, research and development, and worker training. The Governor also signed two bills to expand the Enterprise Zone program to help create and retain jobs.
The Governor has also worked to improve Wisconsin’s tax ranking and business climate. Today, Wisconsin ranks 30th in business taxes – well below the national average.
