Wisconsin DOT Issues Grant to Support Business Expansions in Fitchburg
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Wisconsin officials recently announced a $1 million grant has been awarded to support a road construction project in Fitchburg, which is located six miles south of Madison.
The road construction project, announced by Wisconsin Department of Transportation representatives and Gov. Tony Evers, will support business expansions at facilities maintained by two companies: Sub-Zero Group Inc. and Promega Corp. Sub-Zero manufactures appliances such as refrigerators and Promega specializes in products meant for biotechnology purposes.
The grant funding was issued through WisDOT’s Transportation Economic Assistance program.
A Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grant for road construction in Fitchburg will aid business expansions at Sub Zero and Promega, which are expected to create more than 200 jobs. More: https://t.co/aJEWaMx9VH pic.twitter.com/kPfSgLDsLN — Wisconsin DOT (@WisconsinDOT) March 22, 2021
“Our collaboration with the city of Fitchburg on this project helps support key transportation infrastructure needed for these businesses which are making significant capital investments in their operations in addition to creating jobs,” said WisDOT Secretary-designee Craig Thompson. “TEA grants support business expansion across the state, and I want to encourage local officials and economic groups to apply.”
The grant will contribute to Fitchburg’s $8.4 million project to widen and upgrade a portion of Lacy Road, which offers a connection to the Fitchburg Commerce Park. Specifically, Sub-Zero is building a new design center near its existing facilities and Promega is constructing a new manufacturing facility nearby. The Lacy Road upgrade will convert the street from a rural two-lane road to a wider roadway with bike facilities as well as curb and gutter improvements.
According to WisDOT, the companies’ projects have a combined capital expenditure of more than $239 million. The Lacy Road upgrade is scheduled to be constructed in 2022.
“Promega and Sub-Zero have continued to grow and invest in Fitchburg,” said Fitchburg Mayor Aaron Richardson. “This grant recognizes their continued commitment to Fitchburg, and we are thankful to have such great partners in our community.”
Established in 1987, the TEA program provides matching state grants for road, rail, harbor and airport projects that help attract employers to Wisconsin or encourage in-state businesses to expand. A municipal or county government agency must sponsor a TEA application. The goal of the program is to attract businesses and create and increase jobs. Local communities must ensure that the number of jobs expected from a proposed project will materialize within three years from the date of the project agreement.
According to WisDOT, the agency’s TEA program has awarded 12 grants representing $6.2 million over the past 12 months.
“In Wisconsin, we take great pride in our manufacturing and biotechnology businesses,” Evers said. “I am pleased to support Promega and Sub-Zero’s expansion plans that will create more than 200 new jobs in Wisconsin.”
From using drones to photograph the site to providing more information than is available from just sensors on the excavators, we are excited to leverage #SmartConstruction technology in the construction of our future headquarters. Read more: https://t.co/yng9PcCv5s pic.twitter.com/lf41kENknw — Komatsu Mining (@KomatsuMining) February 26, 2021
In early March, WisDOT issued TEA grants to support infrastructure improvements near two manufacturing facilities in the Milwaukee area. Two TEA grants totaling about $1.7 million went to Komatsu Mining Corp.’s new manufacturing facility and headquarters in Milwaukee’s Harbor District. The agency also issued a TEA grant of $250,000 for road construction work at a new Milwaukee Tool facility in West Bend, which is 40 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
Besides the TEA grant, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. authorized Komatsu to receive up to $59.5 million in state tax credits.
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