GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A Green Bay project talked about for decades has the eye of President Joe Biden.
While speaking in the Madison area on Wednesday, the President endorsed the job creation potential for expanding the Port of Green Bay to the mouth of the Fox River, which is being done as part of a plan to move the city’s downtown coal piles.
“That is pretty incredible to have the President of the United States mention the Port of Green Bay, so that was very satisfying. I think I’ll be sharing that with a few people,” said Dean Haen, the director of the Port of Green Bay.
The project is moving forward faster than expected, helped by about $30 million in various government grants.
“At the Port of Green Bay, we’re helping turn an old water plant site into a new port terminal — going to create thousands of jobs over time,” said President Biden. “This is a big deal.”
The site is actually the former Pulliam Power Plant.
“Just as a reference, when we did our 2017 economic impact study, the port was responsible for 1,700 to 1,800 jobs total,” said Haen. “So, when you talk thousands, you’re doubling the port. That is always a target and a goal to double the port, but I think hundreds is more realistic.”
Haen says job estimates for the expansion project can be complicated with direct, indirect and induced jobs.
“There are the people that actually work on that site and the people that are there to pick up the goods, move it by truck, train and then move it to a manufacturing facility where there is indirect jobs, so it’s complicated. But from our estimate, we’d be in the hundreds,” said Haen.
The goal is to start construction at the old power plant site at this time next year.
The City of Green Bay and C. Reiss Coal are still in negotiations about moving the coal piles.
“Progress is being made,” said Haen. “It’s complicated. We didn’t expect to have these dollars or to be moving this fast with the development, and now some of the other pieces have to hurry along to meet the same timelines.”
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