Major New Agricultural Product Export Facility Planned for Port Milwaukee

$31-Million Project is Moving Forward with a Large Federal Grant

For release Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 8:00 am
Port Milwaukee Contact: Jeff Fleming, 414-286-8580, [email protected]

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will unveil a major new development at Port Milwaukee Thursday morning. The Port, in coordination with the DeLong Company, Inc., will establish a $31-million agricultural product export facility on Jones Island.

The announcement coincides with a Port Infrastructure Development Program grant announcement of $15.9-million dollars from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin, a major supporter of the project, notified the Port of the grant this week.

“This investment adds a new dimension to Port Milwaukee’s role as a connector of Wisconsin's businesses and farmers to world markets,” Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said. “Waterborne commerce is what established Milwaukee and fueled its growth. The Port's new agricultural export facility will serve regional customers for decades to come, and we are very appreciative of the Federal government’s partnership.”

The new facility, located on the west side of Jones Island, is designed to handle various agricultural products including a byproduct of ethanol production, Dried Distillers Grain. DDG is an animal feed supplement, and the facility will open new international markets for this product.

“Port Milwaukee moves Wisconsin’s manufactured goods and agricultural products to markets across the country and to the rest of the world,” said Senator Baldwin. “I worked to secure this investment in our transportation infrastructure so that we can expand farmers’ access to international markets, create jobs for Milwaukee workers and help grow our Made in Wisconsin economy.”

This project has received endorsements from State and Federal government leaders, local business groups, and Great Lakes maritime representatives.