By: Logan Rude Jun 14, 2021 to view this article on Channel3000's page click here.
MILTON, Wis. — A Milton chocolate factory will get its ingredients delivered by rail thanks to a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Gov. Tony Evers announced the grant Monday saying it will let the city of Milton to extend a Wisconsin Southern/WATCO rail line to the Clasen Quality Chocolate factory. The Transportation Economic Assistance grant will cover roughly 25% of the $1 million project.
“TEA grants support great projects across Wisconsin where local officials see ways to advance economic development through infrastructure improvements,” Evers said. “And deals don’t get much sweeter than finding a way to help deliver sugar to a chocolate factory.”
Clasen Quality Chocolate, a chocolate and confectionery coating supplier based in Madison, plans to spend an estimated $105 million to build and equip a new 350,000-square-foot plant in Milton. The first of three developmental phases is expected to be completed in 2022. The first phase is expected to bring 50 jobs to Milton.
Construction on the rail expansion is expected later this year.
“We are excited for this partnership between the City, State, and Clasen Quality Chocolate,” said Milton City Administrator Al Hulick. “This project is the largest project in the history of the City of Milton and could not have been made possible without the substantial investment and commitment that CQC and the State of Wisconsin have made to see it through.”