Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2026
Contact: [email protected] 
 
Gov. Evers, WisDOT Announce Over $7.5 Million to Strengthen Wisconsin’s Ports, Bolster Commerce 
Harbor assistance grants to support efforts to upgrade infrastructure and expand operations at five harbors and ports along Lake Michigan  
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), today announced Harbor Assistance Program grants totaling over $7.5 million for harbor maintenance and construction projects in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Marinette, Milwaukee, and Sturgeon Bay. The bipartisan 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers last summer directed $30 million to support the state’s successful Harbor Assistance Program, as well as $20 million specifically to support the completion of the port development project at the Port of Green Bay. Funding announced today builds on those efforts and will help strengthen supply chain reliability, support waterborne freight, and assist with economic development in Wisconsin’s coastal communities.

“As a state, we’ve made it a priority to help ensure our Great Lakes ports and harbors have the 21st-century infrastructure needed to support a 21st-century global economy, and we’re continuing that forward momentum with these grants that will benefit several of our coastal communities,” said Gov. Evers. “Coastal communities are some of the greatest economic drivers of our state, and these funds will work to ensure these vital communities have the tools and resources they need to thrive.”

“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,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “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 over $7.5 million in Harbor Assistance Program grants include:
  • $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;
  • 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; 
  • $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;
  • $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;
  • $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;
  • $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
  • Over $1.4 million for Port Milwaukee and the city of Milwaukee to upgrade worn, leaking roofs, gutters, and exhaust fans on select terminal buildings located on Jones Island. 
Created in 1979, Wisconsin’s Harbor Assistance Program helps harbor communities maintain and improve waterborne commerce. Applications are reviewed by the Harbor Advisory Council, which includes members from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, University of Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and alumni from the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute.

Applications are accepted from public or private harbor facilities for projects that benefit facilities used for cargo transfer, shipbuilding, commercial fishing, vessel cruises, or ferry service. All projects must have a transportation efficiency benefit-cost ratio greater than one over a 25-year project life and be identified in a current three-year harbor development plan. Selection criteria include economic impact, urgency, and project type. The deadline for the next cycle of Harbor Assistance Project grants is Aug. 1, 2026.

More information about Wisconsin’s Harbor Assistance Program and past grand awards can be found here. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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