For more information, contact:
Don Uelmen, WisDOT Economic Development Programs
(608) 266-3488, don.uelmen@dot.wi.gov
Governor Scott Walker announced today that 805 jobs will be created or retained through Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grants in 2011. The grants are administered through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and awarded to municipalities to foster economic growth through transportation-related improvement projects.
“These awards keep quality jobs in the state and meet my pledge to keep Wisconsin open for business,” said Governor Walker. “Improving transportation access is a key component to retain current businesses and attract new ones to Wisconsin.”
In addition to the 805 jobs that will be directly created and retained through the 2011 TEA grants, the funding will indirectly support another 830; for a total of 1,635 jobs.
Ten TEA grants were awarded in 2011, totaling more than $3 million. TEA grants can cover up to 50 percent of a project’s total cost. Below is a summary of this year’s projects.
* $650,000 to the city of Waukesha to build two rail spurs for expansion of Weldall Manufacturing, Inc., a welding company. The project will create 130 jobs and indirectly support another 88 jobs.
* $625,000 to the city of Altoona for highway improvements for Curt Manufacturing, a manufacturer of trailer hitches. The project will create 125 jobs and indirectly support another 129.
* $500,000 to the city of La Crosse to improve roads around Kwik Trip’s expanding bakery and distribution center. The project will create 100 new jobs and indirectly support another 151.
* $355,450 to Rusk County to rebuild a county highway to serve Jeld-Wen, Inc. in the village of Hawkins. Jeld-Wen is the world’s largest manufacturer of windows and doors. The project will retain 200 jobs and indirectly create another 154 jobs.
* $346,400 to the city of Prescott to improve roads around the Bergquist Company, a manufacturer of thermal management, switch, and touch screen technology. The project will create 70 new jobs and indirectly support another 124 jobs.
* $194,550 to the village of Ellsworth to improve roads around Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery, which specializes in butter, cheeses and cheese curds. The project will create 12 jobs, retain 79 jobs and indirectly support another 104 jobs.
* $175,000 to the city of Richland Center to improve roads around Schreiber Foods, which produces and distributes yogurt. The project will create 35 new jobs and indirectly support another 24 jobs.
* $73,500 to Marinette County for spur rail track improvements in the town of Beecher for Thilmany Paper’s new rail yard. The project will create 15 new jobs and indirectly support another 20 jobs.
* $55,000 to Marinette County to rebuild a county highway to serve ISP Minerals, a maker of roofing shingle materials in the town of Pembine. The project will retain 11 jobs and indirectly support another 10 jobs.
* $40,000 to the city of Shullsburg to improve roads around White Hill Cheese Company, which specializes in Swiss cheese products. The project will retain 28 new jobs and indirectly support another 26 jobs.
Since it was created in 1987, the TEA grant program has invested more than $85 million in 313 projects benefiting 339 businesses and creating or retaining 72,780 jobs in Wisconsin.
WisDOT accepts TEA grant applications year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. The evaluation, analysis and approval process takes approximately 90 days to complete.
For more information about WisDOT’s TEA grant program, visit http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/localgov/aid/tea.htm.
