Gov. Evers announces grant for chocolate factory in Milton to receive its ingredients by rail

MILTON, Wis. (CBS 58) --- Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, as well as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced a chocolate factory being built in the city of Milton will receive its sugar and oil by rail on Monday, June 14.

The $1 million rail project allows the city of Milton to extend a Wisconsin Southern/WATCO rail line to Clasen Quality Chocolate (CQC).

Officials say 25% of the rail project was funded by the recently approved grant.

“TEA grants support great projects across Wisconsin where local officials see ways to advance economic development through infrastructure improvements,” Gov. Evers said. “And deals don’t get much sweeter than finding a way to help deliver sugar to a chocolate factory.”

Construction of the new rail spur will occur later this year. CQC plans to spend about $105 million to construct and equiop their new 350,000-square-foot plant in Milton through multiple phases. The first phase will add 50 jobs and is expected to be completed and operational in the fall of 2022.

“Clasen Quality Chocolate is making a major investment in Milton, and we are pleased to support their cooperative efforts with local officials,” Secretary-designee Craig Thompson said. “Helping communities offer good multi-modal infrastructure puts them in good position for economic growth.”

The company is based in Madison and has manufacturing facilities in Middleton and Watertown, as well as in Nevada.

“We are excited for this partnership between the City, State, and Clasen Quality Chocolate,” said Milton City Administrator Al Hulick. “This project is the largest project in the history of the City of Milton and could not have been made possible without the substantial investment and commitment that CQC and the State of Wisconsin have made to see it through.”