Waukesha - Weldall Manufacturing, the Waukesha metal fabricator that is getting city financial incentives for a plant expansion, could get further state assistance to build a $1 million railroad spur to serve its expanded facility.
The city's Finance Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to sponsor an application for the Transportation Economic Assistant Program of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Common Council action is expected at its Feb. 17 meeting. Among the requirements is a jobs guarantee between Weldall and the city.
According to city officials, the state would pay half the cost of the rail spur and Weldall would pay the rest. The city's only cost is in administering the grant and overseeing construction.
Weldall plans to build a two-track spur stretching just over a quarter mile long from the Canadian National Railway Co.'s main line. The five-car capacity tracks would allow for delivery of raw steel and for export of finished products, as well as railcar switching and storage.
Last year the city agreed to $975,000 in financing to offset construction costs for a 76,000-square-foot addition to its plant at 2001 S. Prairie Ave. The funds would be repaid over 14 years from property taxes on an estimated $6.5 million in new tax base from the project, according to city officials' estimates.
The project, which will serve an expanded product line, would add 75 manufacturing jobs, Weldall officials have said.