Kewaunee County project part of record-setting year

By Star-News staff

MADISON — A Kewaunee County project was part of record amount in planned capital investments last year as businesses located and expanded throughout the state, said Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes.

“Businesses partnering with the Evers Administration through WEDC committed to more than $2.4 billion in capital investments in fiscal year (FY) 2024, the highest level since WEDC was created in 2011 and well above the previous high of nearly $1.8 billion set in FY19,” a release from Gov. Tony Evers office stated.

“Whether it’s the expansion of businesses like Kikkoman Foods and Nestle Purina in Jefferson or Rosewood Dairy’s new state-of-the-art cheese plant in Clay Banks, now is an incredibly exciting time for business growth in Wisconsin,” said Evers. “We’ve been making smart, strategic investments in our infrastructure, our schools, our communities, and our workforce, and those efforts are paying off. Businesses want to expand or move to Wisconsin because they know we’ve got the hardworking people, innovative spirit, and strong institutions to ensure they succeed here.”

Last week, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) also announced that Wisconsin achieved new record highs for employment and total nonfarm jobs during June 2024 and that Wisconsin ranked first in the nation for inflation-adjusted hourly earnings growth during February, March and May 2024 and second in the nation during April.

“I’ve been saying recently that Wisconsin is having a moment—as the world focuses on the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, the Wisconsin season of Top Chef, and other exciting events we’re attracting to our state. But the reality is, we’re not having a moment. We have momentum,” said Hughes. “Our state is making record investments in our communities, our workers, and in the types of innovation that will continue to put Wisconsin in the lead for generations.”

Rosewood Dairy’s $35 million construction of a new cheese plant in Clay Banks on the border of Door and Kewaunee counties, was included in the  list of projects supported by the Evers Administration through WEDC

In total, WEDC authorized more than $62 million in performance-based tax credits to generate over $2.4 billion in capital investments, a staggering 40:1 projected return on investment.

The projects are also expected to create a total of almost 5,000 jobs statewide. 

The capital expenditure figures represent only investments for projects WEDC has assisted in the past year, which does not include private sector-only investments in Wisconsin, such as Microsoft’s planned $3.3 billion datacenter in Mount Pleasant, Eli Lilly and Company’s purchase of Nexus Pharmaceuticals in Mount Pleasant, or Asahi Breweries’ purchase of Octopi Brewing in Waunakee, among other major projects.

“In FY24, Gov. Evers and WEDC also created the $100 million Wisconsin Investment Fund, the largest public-private investment partnership in state history, to assist innovative start-ups in Wisconsin. Roughly one-fourth of the fund’s initial investments are targeted at the state’s growing biohealth and biotechnology sectors, which will build on the $49 million Wisconsin will receive from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for Wisconsin’s designation as one of 12 national U.S. Regional Technology Hubs,” the release added.

“WEDC also continues to address the state’s workforce needs through the Workforce Innovation Grants, which are administered in partnership with DWD. Twenty-seven projects are meeting regional workforce needs—such as worker training, transportation, child care, and affordable housing—through the $128 million grant program.”