Mayor Tours DeLong Construction Site At Port Milwaukee
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson toured the development site for the agricultural maritime export facility at Port Milwaukee February 3. Johnson was joined by officials from the port and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and representatives from The DeLong Company Inc. to view the progress of this major investment that officials say will create jobs, support Wisconsin’s agriculture industry and grow the regional economy.
The development is the largest one-time investment in Port Milwaukee since the 1950s, when the St. Lawrence Seaway was being built.
“Milwaukee is the economic engine for our state and region, and this addition to the port’s operations will expand a strong partnership that includes The DeLong Company, the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin agriculture and world markets,” Johnson said. “Thank you to our many partners for advancing this continued growth at Port Milwaukee. I am looking forward to this facility becoming operational in the near future.”
“We want to thank the city of Milwaukee for their partnership on this project. We look forward to becoming part of the community,” said Bo DeLong, vice president of grain for The DeLong Company.“Port Milwaukee is an integral link in the Wisconsin economy,” interim Port Milwaukee Director Jackie Carter said. “In this case, we are connecting Wisconsin farmers, growers and producers with new international markets. The combined support from local, state and federal officials affirms the importance of this new asset on Jones Island. The development of this facility at Port Milwaukee is a great addition to the city’s marine commerce, and I’m excited to witness the benefits it will create for our maritime economy.”
The facility, located on the west side of Jones Island, will be one of the first on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway (GLSLS) system to handle various agricultural commodities via truck, rail and international vessel, including dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGs). DDGs are an animal feed supplement derived as a byproduct of ethanol that is high in nutrients. The facility will open Wisconsin’s maritime and agricultural economies to new international markets for this and other products. Future service at the facility may also include the export of Wisconsin-grown soybeans, corn and grain.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has estimated the DeLong terminal will alone generate $63 million in new statewide economic impact annually, increasing exports through Port Milwaukee by as much as 400,000 metric tons per year.
Port Milwaukee was one of the first nationwide grant recipients of the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) through the U.S. Department of Transportation. Additional facility funding has been provided by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Port Milwaukee and The DeLong Company. Overall construction costs are currently estimated at approximately $40 million.
