The Port of Green Bay had to pivot when it missed out on a $25 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant earlier this year to cover the growing costs of an ambitious expansion project. Port leadership has subsequently announced modifications to the scope of the originally planned project to redevelop a decommissioned power plant site into a state-of-the-art port facility.
The new plan calls for the creation of 12 to 13 acres of useable port space at the 37-acre former Pulliam Power Plant site adjacent to the port. The port is also looking to complete extensive shoreline improvements and relocate a large amount of coal that has been on the site for decades.
Elements of the original project plan tabled include developing two other portions of the Pulliam site, installing a crane pad to facilitate unloading shipping containers, and extending a rail spur to create a multimodal hub and facilitate the transfer of goods between trucks, trains, and ships.
What benefits will the revised plan provide?
Specific port improvements moving forward include dredging parts of the Fox River to facilitate ship traffic to the facility, the construction of an 800-foot dock wall, raising the Pulliam property to remove it from the flood plain, constructing a stormwater detention basin, and installing mooring features.
The port expansion project is expected to bolster economic activity in the Greater Green Bay region and create additional jobs at the port beyond the more than 1,600 currently supported there.
How will the revised project move forward?
The port has at least $21 million in hand and has applied for an additional $4 million WisDOT Harbor Assistance Program Grant. Additionally, the port is looking for the USDOT to approve a scope change to the $10 million Port Infrastructure Development Grant that the facility received last year.
What’s next?
Contract and option awards will be announced in early 2025, and construction will begin soon after. The port expects work to last 18 months and two years, with completion anticipated in late 2026 or early 2027.
