Harbors across the state will receive Harbor Assistance Program grants totaling over $7.5 million for harbor maintenance and construction projects.
Ports in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Marinette, Milwaukee and Sturgeon Bay will receive funding. Wisconsin’s 2025-2027 biennial budget gave $30 million to support the state’s Harbor Assistance Program, as well as $20 million to support the completion of the port development project at the Port of Green Bay.
“Maritime, rail, and truck transportation are the backbone of Wisconsin’s supply chain, connecting our manufacturers and farmers to customers across the country and around the world,” WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman said in a statement. “Every dollar we invest in port infrastructure pays dividends far beyond the harbors — from improved reliability and capacity to lower transportation costs and thriving coastal communities. Those savings ultimately flow through the supply chain and can help hold down prices for Wisconsin residents and businesses, too.”
Projects supported by the grants include:
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$1.3 million for the Port of Green Bay and Brown County to dredge an area at the mouth of the Lower Fox River that is being redeveloped as part of a larger project to install a dock wall, add fill material and regrade property to create a new transload facility;
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Over $1.3 million for Burger Boat Company in Manitowoc to dredge along the existing dock wall and launch well, expanding capacity and enabling launches of newly built large vessels, as well as repair and refit activities at the shipyard;
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$411,000 for Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay for dock wall repair and fender system improvements to protect Great Lakes vessels from damage during berthing for repairs;
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$882,000 for Marinette Fuel & Dock in Marinette to dredge a mooring area to the same depth as the Menominee River navigation channel to accommodate larger vessels and expand cargo operations;
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$188,000 for city of Sturgeon Bay to revitalize and rebuild a multi-purpose public dock on Nautical Drive, with a section of dock for commercial use and another for recreational use;
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$2 million for City Centre LLC in Manitowoc to construct a crane platform and loadout ramp for assembling, testing and transferring cranes designed by Konecranes Inc. onto barges for shipment; and
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Over $1.4 million for Port Milwaukee and the city of Milwaukee to upgrade roofs, gutters and exhaust fans on select terminal buildings located on Jones Island.
