On Tuesday, June 3, a substantial expansion was announced at Uline’s Corporate Campus in Pleasant Prairie. Uline indicated that it will invest approximately $100,000,000 to double the size of its current campus located west of I-94 and south of County Highway Q (Highway 165).

The company announced plans to add a second 1,000,000 square foot warehouse and a second corporate office building with 200,000 square feet to house corporate marketing and creative staff, and other departments. The company indicated that the expansion will create 500 jobs, with approximately half of the 500 working in the new office building and half in the new warehouse.

Brian Uihlein, pictured speaking above, spoke on behalf of the company. Other speakers at the June 3 announcement included Governor Scott Walker, County Executive Jim Kreuser, and Village President John Steinbrink Sr.

Uline has been discussing the purchase of a 30-acre property owned by Pleasant Prairie’s Community Development Authority in order to accommodate the second office building. Uline relocated its corporate headquarters to Pleasant Prairie from Waukegan, Illinois in 2010 and has since outgrown its new facilities. Uline also has two additional distribution centers in Pleasant Prairie. One is expected to close upon completion of the new warehouse.

Planning for development west of I-94 in Pleasant Prairie dates back several years. Municipal groundwork laid some time ago that was intended to encourage corporate interest in the area included:
• the establishment of a Tax Increment Financing District to help fund growth and development (1999);
• the acquisition of land formerly occupied by two adult book stores and other blighted land uses (2003);
• the installation of a fiber network for high speed internet and digital media services (2005); and
• the construction of public improvements to serve the area, such as sanitary sewer and water main (2007).

A commercial developer purchased the property in 2007 and began mass grading at the site. During 2008, Uline announced plans to relocate their corporate headquarters to the PrairieWood site, and the planning process began. At the time (September 2008), approximately 850 employees were expected to work from the corporate campus in Pleasant Prairie. Uline currently employs approximately 1,100 people within the Village. With the expansion, that number will grow to nearly 1,600.

“We feel incredibly fortunate to have such an amazing family-run business in the community,” explained Village President John Steinbrink Sr. “An employer such as Uline, that offers so many family-sustaining jobs, promotes an exceptional work experience and customer service philosophy, and helps support community partners, is a plus for the entire community.”