WisDOT Awards TEA Grants for CN Rail Spur Projects
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
Photograph Courtesy of CN, via Twitter
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced on Oct. 6 that it has awarded two Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grants to allow rail spurs to be built to existing CN lines at Alliance Plastics Inc. and Drexel Systems LLC, two tenants in the state’s newest industrial park located in Wrightstown, Wisc. The grants are expected to add more than 120 manufacturing jobs.
A TEA grant award of $400,000 will allow the village of Wrightstown to connect an Alliance Plastics Inc. rail line spur to an existing CN line. The 1,384-foot rail spur will support the movement of raw materials to this facility from other states and Canada. The grant will add 79 manufacturing jobs, as well as retain one job.
“The rail spur project for our property in Wrightstown, Wisc., will allow Alliance Plastics to dramatically cut down on the number of inbound OTR deliveries that currently occur without the rail access,” said Alliance Plastics Inc. President Troy Wolf. “It also allows our company to purchase our raw materials in larger quantities and store more material onsite, allowing us to be more competitive in our industry space. These factors will allow us to continue to expand both our facility size and employment at our Wrightstown, Wisc., location and the TEA Grant award makes this possible.”
Additionally, a TEA grant award of $500,000 will help reconstruct a rail spur for Drexel Systems LLC to connect to an existing CN line. The 4,175-foot rail spur system will support the movement of lumber from the Pacific Northwest and Canada. The grant will add 50 manufacturing jobs and retain 50 jobs.
“Drexel is beyond thrilled to hear that the village of Wrightstown was awarded a WisDOT TEA grant,” said Drexel Building Supply President Joel Fleischman. “This will assist Drexel in keeping its cost of goods competitive and bring high quality raw building materials directly into the manufacturing facility. Drexel appreciates all the hard work that the village of Wrightstown and the state of Wisconsin did by coming together and helping to make this project a reality.”
According to WisDOT, the state’s TEA program has awarded 20 grants since 2019 totaling more than $9 million to support transportation improvements linked to business development projects that will create more than 1,800 new jobs and retain more than 1,600 jobs in Wisconsin.
“We are proud to support the village of Wrightstown and their commitment to invest in transportation and workforce,” said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson. “New rail spurs for these two companies will facilitate economic development and provide important connections to markets across the nation as well as Canada.”
“With the award of two TEA grants, the village of Wrightstown can create an economic gateway to our newest industrial park,” said village of Wrightstown Administrator Travis Coenen. “Efficient transportation of goods to these companies will continue to grow our community and the northeastern Wisconsin marketplace.”
More information about WisDOT’s TEA program can be found here.
