Governor of Wisconsin Approves $5 Million in Harbor Grants

Governor Scott Walker has approved grants totaling $5 million for two harbor maintenance and improvement projects in Wisconsin.

Improvements will promote waterborne freight and assist economic development in the communities where they’re located, Wisconsin Department of Transportation said in its release.

Created in 1979, Wisconsin’s Harbor Assistance Program helps harbor communities maintain and improve waterborne commerce.

Applications are reviewed by the Harbor Advisory Council, which includes members from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, UW Sea Grant, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute.

Two harbor maintenance and improvement projects are:

• 1311 Spring, LLC, Manitowoc (Manitowoc County) – $3 million to develop 520 feet of undeveloped shoreline on the Manitowoc River by constructing a new dockwall and dredging 9,000 cubic yards of sediment. This will allow 1311 Spring to better service increased local shipping/barge activities. These include shipping bottom ash and pulp wood, as well as loading up to 400 wind towers per year from the facility. The completion of this project will create a full service transload dock to ship manufactured and bulk goods, as well as take in raw and bulk materials for use in the local industry. This project is expected to add 5 jobs to the Manitowoc workforce and provide area businesses a cost-effective, efficient means to import and export material.
• RGL Holdings, Inc, Green Bay (Brown County) – $2 million for shoreside and waterside structural and safety improvements to accept cargo ships and provide loading and unloading capabilities. The project will elevate the site above the flood plain and provide a greater range of operating levels.

Through 2016, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has administered over $128 million in matching funds for 102 port preservation and improvement projects along the Great Lakes and Mississippi River.