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6/17/2024
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers last week announced a $885,000 grant will be awarded to help fund a rail project that will enable corrugated packaging company WestRock Co. to open a new manufacturing plant in southeast Wisconsin.
The Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grant will be awarded to the village of Pleasant Prairie for the construction a rail spur and additional railroad track to connect WestRock’s recently acquired 190-acre industrial facility, located near the intersection of County Highway H and 95th Street, to the Union Pacific Railroad mainline.
The rail connection will allow the company to transport raw materials, mainly oversized paper rolls, more efficiently while being environmentally responsible. It would require four to six truckloads to deliver the same amount of material as one rail car, according to a Wisconsin Department of Transportation press release.
WestRock’s new Wisconsin facility will help meet the growing demand for creative packaging solutions from customers in the Great Lakes region. The company’s products include corrugated containers, folding cartons, paperboard, and other packaging materials. WestRock serves key markets, including retail, distribution, processed food, industrial, and protein businesses.
The TEA program provides financial assistance to communities to support transportation infrastructure improvements that will help attract new employers or encourage existing employers to expand. The WestRock facility is expected to create 177 jobs.