Governor of Wisconsin Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) have announced an $885,000 Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grant awarded to the Village of Pleasant Prairie. This grant will support a rail project enabling WestRock, a corrugated packaging company, to open a new manufacturing facility that is anticipated to create 177 new jobs in Pleasant Prairie.
“Pleasant Prairie is proud to partner with WisDOT to support WestRock in their development of a state-of-the-art corrugated box plant,” said Village Administrator Eric Rindfleisch. “The TEA grant program is essential in attracting new business, fostering job opportunities, and boosting Wisconsin’s business reputation. The grant will support the addition of a rail spur to enhance material delivery, reducing daily truck trips to and from the facility.”
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.
“This is an investment in the community of Pleasant Prairie and our state’s economy,” said Gov. Evers. “Southeast Wisconsin is growing rapidly, and this investment will support continued growth, create jobs, and build necessary infrastructure for the future. This new infrastructure and facility will contribute to Wisconsin’s 21st-century workforce and economy.”
The grant funding will help fund the construction of a rail spur and additional railroad track, connecting WestRock’s recently acquired 190-acre industrial facility near County Highway H and 95th Street to the Union Pacific Railroad mainline. This rail connection will allow efficient and environmentally responsible transportation of raw materials, mainly oversized paper rolls. One rail car can deliver the equivalent of four to six truckloads of material.
“This grant was critical in attracting this business to Pleasant Prairie,” said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson. “Gov. Evers’ investment in transportation solutions makes this project possible. Through this TEA grant, we’re creating jobs, reducing manufacturing costs, and improving sustainability by lowering energy consumption.”
WestRock’s new Wisconsin facility will meet the growing demand for creative packaging solutions in the Great Lakes region. The company’s products include corrugated containers, folding cartons, paperboard, and other packaging materials, serving key markets such as retail, distribution, and processed food businesses.