Wisconsin TEA grants to fund two rail projects

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

The city of Fond du Lac, Wis., is being awarded a Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grant. The $600,000-award represents the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's (WisDot) contribution toward rail improvements to serve McNeilus Steel's expanding facility in Fond du Lac.

This TEA project will create 70 new jobs and retain 50 direct jobs at McNeilus Steel, while indirectly supporting another 91 jobs. The rail improvement project includes construction of a 2,360-foot track and a 1,570-foot rail spur to off-load materials at McNeilus Steel’s new and existing facilities. Construction is expected to begin in May and be completed by September 2013. The TEA grant represents nearly 50 percent of the $1,273,076 rail construction costs. The remainder of the funding is being providing by the city of Fond du Lac and McNeilus Steel.

Additionally, the town of Hubbard is being awarded a TEA grant worth $272,439, which represents the WisDot’s contribution toward the construction of a rail spur to serve Menard’s expanding manufacturing facility.

This TEA project will create 55 direct jobs at Menard’s and indirectly support another 29 jobs. The grant represents 50 percent of the $544,878-rail spur construction cost. The other half of the funding is being providing by Menard’s. Construction on the 1,100-foot rail spur is expected to be completed by March of this year.

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