The opportunity? WestRock Company, an American corrugated packaging company based in Atlanta, recently acquired a 190-acre industrial property in the village of Pleasant Prairie. The company plans a new $140 million manufacturing facility and needs a more efficient way to transport bulk materials.

How does the “fix” benefit the community? A rail connection will allow the company to transport its raw materials, including oversized paper rolls, more efficiently while also being environmentally responsible. Officials estimate one rail car carries the equivalent of four to six truckloads. The new facility will create approximately 180 jobs.

What makes the infrastructure investment possible? The Wisconsin Department of Transportation awarded the Village of Pleasant Prairie a $885,000 Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) grant to fund the rail spur project. The TEA program provides financial assistance to communities to support transportation infrastructure improvements that will help attract new employers or encourage existing employers to expand.

What’s next? With growing demand for packaging products from customers in the Great Lakes region, WestRock plans to start construction in 2024 with project completion in 2025.