Grant announced to help create 177 jobs in Pleasant Prairie

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A $855,000 grant will support the creation of 177 jobs in Pleasant Prairie as WestRock opens a new manufacturing facility, according to a Thursday, June 13 announcement from Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

The Transportation Economic Assistance grant will go towards to fund a rail project in the village. Evers noted in the release, "This is an investment not only in the community of Pleasant Prairie but in our state’s economy."

The grant will finance a rail spur and track connecting WestRock’s facility to the Union Pacific Railroad mainline.

WestRock’s new facility will help meet the demand for creative packaging solutions in the Great Lakes region. The company’s products include corrugated containers, folding cartons, paperboard and other packaging materials.

Pleasant Prairie Village Administrator Eric Rindfleisch said, "The TEA grant program is essential in attracting new business, fostering job opportunities, and boosting Wisconsin’s business reputation."

TEA grants are aimed at supporting transportation infrastructure growth, with the goal of attracting new employers or encouraging existing employers to expand.