An $885,000 Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grant is coming to the village of Pleasant Prairie. The grant will support a rail project to enable corrugated packaging company WestRock to open a new manufacturing facility and create 177 jobs.

The grant will help fund the construction of a rail spur and additional railroad track to connect WestRock’s recently acquired 190-acre industrial facility, located near the intersection of County Highway H and 95th Street, to the Union Pacific Railroad mainline. The rail connection will allow the company to transport its raw materials, mainly oversized paper rolls, more efficiently while being environmentally responsible. It would require four to six truckloads to deliver the same amount of material as one rail car.

“This grant was critical in attracting this business to the village of Pleasant Prairie,” said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson in a statement. “I applaud Gov. (Tony) Evers’ vision in making this investment in transportation solutions to make this a reality. Through this TEA grant, we’re creating new jobs, reducing manufacturing costs, and improving sustainability through reduced energy consumption.”

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