The Certified In Wisconsin Program, which offers a smooth path to business development at shovel-ready sites across the state, added two new sites this year: a 123-acre industrial park in central Wisconsin and a 100-plus-acre site in the western part of the state.
The Yellowstone Industrial Park in Marshfield (123 acres) received the Certified Site designation from WEDC last month, ensuring developers that the site is development-ready and allowing them to steer clear of ambiguities and unforeseen pitfalls in siting and planning. Stanley Business Park West, (100+ acres) located east of Eau Claire in the Chippewa Valley region, earned the Certified Site designation last October.
To become certified, Yellowstone Industrial Park and program officials invested in completing due diligence studies including a wetlands report; a geotechnical report; an endangered resources review; and archaeological, architectural, and historical reviews. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment has also been completed.
“Businesses and investors want certainty. The Certified In Wisconsin Program offers businesses peace of mind because it ensures that an array of concerns have been evaluated and addressed, making sites ready for immediate development,” said Missy Hughes, WEDC secretary and CEO. “That assurance makes Yellowstone Industrial Park a prime development site.”
In all, Wisconsin has 15 available Certified Sites. A total of 23 sites have earned certification since program inception. Currently, 46 development projects are underway or completed across these sites. Together, they are expected to create 3,445 jobs and generate more than $581 million in capital investment.
For site selectors and developers, the designation serves as a pre-qualification, indicating that a property’s title is clear, that it possesses sufficient utilities and other infrastructure for industrial use, and that it is properly zoned and has adequate transportation access for such uses, among other criteria.
