• Interstate 41 Corridor

Brown, Calumet, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Winnebago Counties

$66M expansion will double size of Appleton International Airport

Appleton International Airport launched a $66 million expansion in late November that will more than double its size.

The 47,000-square-foot expansion of the main concourse will better serve the almost 1 million passengers who use the facility annually, officials said.

Funding for the expansion is from a combination of state, federal and regional grants and budgeted dollars.

The first phase of the terminal expansion will include the following improvements:

• The gate area will be expanded, bringing the total number of gates to 10.
• There will be a connector between the existing gates and new gates, plus expanded areas for passenger boarding and a variety of seating options.
• There will be a biergarten and an additional bar/restaurant in the gate area for ticketed passengers.
• Ramps will be used throughout to ensure easy access for all people regardless of abilities.
• There will be expanded restroom facilities, a sensory support room, a quiet room and a service animal relief area.

Future construction phases will expand ticketing and baggage claim areas and refresh existing concourse areas in the airport. The renovation will pay special attention to sustainability in future expansion plans.

Construction partners on the expansion are Mead & Hunt, providing architecture and design, and Miron Construction, providing construction services. The first phase of work is expected to be complete in 2025.

EAA Education Center receives $1.5M grant

The Adam R. Scripps Foundation has approved a $1.5 million grant to the EAA Aviation Foundation in support of the EAA education center and the Experimental Aircraft Association’s online AeroEducate program.

The three-year grant is focused on activities at the Education Center, which opened in July 2022 and serves both youth discovery of aviation and proficiency for current pilots. The grant also will support EAA’s AeroEducate program, which is a free online resource with age-based activities and clear pathways to aviation and aerospace careers where K-12 students can discover and ignite their curiosity about flight.

The grant also helps complete the “Project 21” effort that led to the construction and opening of the EAA Education Center, which has already welcomed thousands of young people for aviation discovery in the past year. The exterior courtyard at the education center will be named the Adam R. Scripps Courtyard in honor of the foundation’s namesake and his enthusiasm for the world of flight during his life.

• The Northwoods

Florence, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto Counties

Marinette approves TIF incentives for Pine Tree Mall

The Marinette City Council approved amending a tax incremental finance (TIF) district that covers the area around Pine Tree Mall in order to provide investment incentives for new businesses in the mall.

Midland Management of Sumter, South Carolina purchased the mall in 2016 and has been redeveloping the space to make it more attractive to tenants. There remain open spaces for a potential restaurant and a national retailer as well as potential development in an outlot area.

The TIF district that encompasses the mall is approximately 33 acres. The city anticipates making additional expenditures of $2 million for improvements that will include $1.5 million for business incentives. The expenditures will be recovered through the increased tax increment generated by improvements.

One of the infrastructure improvements included in the plan is installation of an electric vehicle charging station.

Consultants told city officials that with the amendment, the TIF district is still on track to close early.

• The Lakeshore

Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Sheboygan Counties

Wisconsin Maritime Heritage Center construction begins

Wisconsin Maritime Museum is renovating a 90,000-square-foot property on Franklin Street in Manitowoc for the future Wisconsin Maritime Heritage Center.

Efforts to improve the facility have been underway since 2017 when a multiphase project began. The new center will safely and efficiently house the museum’s collections as well as engage visitors and encourage research.

Preliminary work was largely grant funded by two programs with the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In 2017, a Collections Assessment for Preservation grant identified areas of greatest need for the WMM collections. The Franklin Street facility was specifically called out for improvements in the areas of climate control and storage efficiency.

That assessment informed a 2018 IMLS Museums for America: Collections Stewardship Program grant, to plan for the recommended improvements. With a plan laid out, the museum has continued to prepare and fundraise for implementing the renovations.

Key to this effort is a grant from the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation, a facade restoration grant from the city of Manitowoc as well as financial support from museum donors.

In 2024, the public will see the beginning of the Maritime Heritage Plaza and Gardens, which will transform a significant portion of the old dealership lot into a public park highlighting maritime artifacts, archaeological investigations, a demonstration of green infrastructure projects, a state-of-the-art conservation lab and a boatbuilding shop.

Sheboygan to renovate Harbor Centre Marina

Sheboygan plans to invest up to $13 million to renovate the Harbor Centre Marina.

The multi-year project is expected to begin in 2024. The city intends to maintain and operate the 250 slips the harbor currently offers during construction.

The city announced in a press release that its current contract with F3 Marina will not be renewed. F3 Marina also manages the Village of Egg Harbor Marina.

Sheboygan will seek to hire staff to manage the marina reservations, fee and fueling. Sheboygan currently manages all boat slip facilities along the Sheboygan River and plans to extend this model to the Harbor Centre Marina.

Aging infrastructure and recurring annual damage to docks have necessitated significant capital reinvestment in the marina facility, which opened in 1993. The city indicates that harbor operation has required ongoing financial support.

The city has a contract for $79,300 with SmithGroup for consulting services. Services include developing a preliminary and final plan for harbor improvements that will take into account input from various stakeholders, current conditions of the existing infrastructure, regulatory requirements and grant funding opportunities.

The city will ultimately develop a comprehensive plan that encompasses public and open spaces, housing and commercial development opportunities, zoning, land use and more.

“The city’s focus is to create accessible lakefront amenities that cater to a wider audience, aligning with its commitment to enhance quality of life and make Sheboygan an attractive place to work, live and recreate,” the release stated.

• West Central

Green Lake, Marquette, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara Counties

Community First donates $250K to Waupaca athletic facility

Community First Credit Union committed to a $250,000 naming sponsorship for Lakemen Field in Waupaca, pushing phase one of the redevelopment past the $475,000 fundraising goal.

Work will begin next spring on ballpark lighting improvements at what will be known as Community First Lakemen Field, according to Waupaca Park and Recreation Director Laura Colbert and Lakemen General Manager Josh Peterson.

Other first phase improvements will start in fall 2024, including construction of a new infield (with a 25-plus year lifespan; last renovated in 1993) and installation of a new speaker/sound system.

In addition to the gift from Community First, the fundraising campaign for Phase I has received $141,000 in private donations, $25,000 in grants and $175,000 from the city as of Dec. 1.

A preliminary master plan for redevelopment of Lakemen Athletic Field by Rettler Corp., Stevens Point, was presented to the city last spring. It suggested a phased approach to upgrades that carries an overall cost of just under $2 million.

Future improvements include a bathroom and concession building, an additional batting cage, right field fence adjustment, backstop, dugouts and a 44-stall parking lot.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of Lakemen Field’s restoration and revitalization — honoring the Waupaca community’s strong baseball heritage and ensuring it will continue to serve as a community gathering place for all ages for years to come,” said Community First’s Amanda Secor.

Other major donors to the project included $25,000 each from L & L Propane and Farmers State Bank, grants of $10,000 from the Waupaca Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and an anonymous donor through the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Give Back Program awarded a $5,000 grant.

Promote Pulaski considers $8M Barnyard Estates community center

Promote Pulaski conducted a feasibility study for a business and service hub it estimates will cost $8 million.

Barnyard Estates is centered around the concept of a barn-like structure that will include a commons area, meeting rooms, space for small businesses, recreational space and a heritage center.

The study will be instrumental in shaping the business plan, as well as securing grants, funding and financial support. It will provide potential tenants with essential data on the community’s needs and desires.

Public input for the study was collected during meetings in December. After the initial study and public input helps determine the feasibility and scope of the project, fundraising will begin. It is expected that if the project is successful through the first two phases, construction could begin in 2025.