Contact: Amy Hasenberg, (608) 266-2839
WisDOT awarded City of Oshkosh $1 million TEA grant for facility construction
OSHKOSH – Governor Scott Walker today attended the ribbon cutting for the opening of the City of Oshkosh commercial rail facility. The facility was built in part with a $1,009,000 Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) program grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). The facility consists of two rail spurs on city-owned land in the Southwest Industrial Park. Oshkosh contracts with Watco Terminal and Port Services to operate and maintain the facility.
“This is a wise investment for Wisconsin,” said Governor Walker. “This facility will enable container shipping and serve to keep Wisconsin businesses competitive in regional, national and international markets. It’s one more step we’re taking to keep Wisconsin open for business.”
One spur is solely dedicated to Oshkosh Corporation, the city’s largest employer. Oshkosh Corporation is a leading manufacturer and marketer of access equipment, specialty vehicles and truck bodies for the primary markets of defense, concrete placement, refuse hauling, access equipment and fire and emergency. The company was awarded a $1.1 billion military contract in 2009 to build Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV) for the United States Military and its allies. The new facility gives Oshkosh Corporation 24-hour access to the site, which was not permitted at the previous site due to its proximity to a residential neighborhood.
The second spur is currently used by Certainteed Corporation, 3D Corporate Solutions, Darling Ingredients and Agri Trading. The facility is strategically located near Interstate 41, and has capacity to serve other interested regional businesses. The city has also identified potential expansion plans to serve future demand.
“Partnerships like this, between the state, the community and private business, are critical to Wisconsin’s success,” said WisDOT Secretary Dave Ross. “The TEA program is a valuable tool for the department to support economic development.”
The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad exclusively serves the rail facility and connects businesses to any North American Class I Railroad.
The TEA Program:
The Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) program provides financial assistance to help communities with road, rail, harbor or airport improvements to attract employers to Wisconsin, or encourage a state employer to expand in the state. The program will reimburse up to 50 percent of the eligible cost of the transportation improvement.
A municipal or county unit of government must sponsor a TEA application. The project must have the local government’s endorsement, and it must benefit the public.
Through December 2017, Wisconsin’s TEA program has invested more than $107 million in 211 communities, benefiting over 364 Wisconsin businesses, and creating or retaining more than 43,500 jobs around the state. Each state fiscal year, the TEA program has $3.4 million available for transportation improvement projects.
For a complete listing of TEA grants and project details, visit: wisconsindot.gov/TEA