State Invests In Northeastern Wisconsin Shipping

Two state Harbor Assistance Program grants are going to companies in Green Bay and Manitowoc.

Sheri Walz with the Harbor Program, which is run through the state Department of Transportation, said the Green Bay project will reactivate a shipping facility that hasn’t been used in almost 30 years.

The $2 million grant was given to RGL Holding in Green Bay, which expects to import between 50,000 to 100,000 metric tons of wood pulp each year.

“It will help to move new products by water, it’ll also help to reduce congestion on other modes,” Walz said. “Products that are moving by water reduce the load on the surrounding rail and highway infrastructure.”

When it’s done, Walz said the project will allow for another 40 to 80 ships on the Port of Green Bay. It’s also expected to create 22 jobs.

The other grant is for $3 million to 1311 Spring. The company will develop 520 feet of shoreline on the Manitowoc River by building a new dock wall. It will also dredge 9,000-cubic-yards of sediment out of the river.

Walz said it will lead to more shipping and barge traffic. The company moves things like bottom ash, pulpwood and up to 400 wind towers each year.

Eighty percent of the project costs will be reimbursed to the companies by the DOT. Walz said the Green Bay project is expected to be completed by September. The deadline in Manitowoc is January 2018.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect that the companies will be reimbursed 80 percent of the costs, not pay 80 percent. It was last updated at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 31 2017.