Gov. Evers Announces $1 Million TEA Grant for Fitchburg, Supporting Promega Expansion and Creating 200 New Jobs
“The TEA program is designed to support economic development.”
MADISON—Gov. Tony Evers announced today the city of Fitchburg will receive a grant worth up to $1 million from the Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) program of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). The funds will be used to extend Fahey Glen from Lacy Road to East Cheryl Parkway, and other improvements in Fitchburg Center. Fitchburg Center is a 400-acre, mixed-use development off of Fish Hatchery Road, south of the Madison Beltline (US 12/18).
The new 900-foot, two-lane road will provide direct access to Lacy Road, linking existing and future Promega Corporation facilities. Promega is a biotechnology company, with products used in biological research, drug discovery and genetic identification. Promega currently has 11 buildings in the Fitchburg Center, with a $190 million, 270,000-square-foot research development center under construction. The new facility is expected to be completed in 2020. According to the TEA application, the expansion efforts are expected to create 200 new jobs.
“The TEA program is designed to support economic development,” said Gov Evers. “This project is an excellent example of transportation supporting economic development. The grant will help Fitchburg support the growth of a world-class company, which is providing the community with excellent jobs, and many community benefits.”
The total cost for the project, which will include bike lanes and sidewalks, a multi-use path, utility work and improvements to the roundabout at Fahey Glen and East Cheryl Parkway, is expected to cost more than $2.8 million. The city of Fitchburg is providing the remainder of the project funding. Construction is expected to begin in August 2019 and be completed in mid-summer 2020. Additional roadway work, including mill and overlay of East Cheryl Parkway, is expected to begin May 2021 with completion in July 2021.
In 2018 the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) authorized the company to receive up to up to $1.5 million in business development tax credits. The actual amount of tax credits Promega receives is contingent upon the number of jobs created and the amount of capital investment during that period.
This is the third TEA grant for the city of Fitchburg. A 2016 grant for $1 million was used to improve access to Sub-Zero Parkway. The city also received a $1 million grant in 2014 for the construction of roads serving Certco Inc., Saris Cycling Group and the Arrowhead Neighborhood.
The TEA Program
The 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% 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.
To date, Wisconsin’s TEA program has invested nearly $111 million in 213 communities, benefiting 350 Wisconsin businesses, and creating or retaining more than 46,500 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
Office of the Governor
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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