$54.6 million is a big number. But if a $51.9 million request for federal assistance comes through, the Port of Green Bay will be on its way to redeveloping land once worked by C. Reiss Coal Company. The direct-spending request was submitted to U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for appropriations through Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

Additional funding is being sought to transform a former Pulliam Power Plant property into a modern working waterfront, according to port director Dean Haen.

The coal-fired plant was decommissioned by the Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) in 2018. The 78 acres is situated at the mouth of the Fox River and offers the ports deepest draft. It was identified as “the most desirable property for port acquisition and development” in the 2016 Port of Green Bay Property Acquisition Plan.

The land has immediate access to both rail and interstate, which positions it to become a modern intermodal hub.

A Layered Plan

In 2020, Brown County purchased 43.89 acres of the property from WPS with plans to upgrade the infrastructure to expand port operations – phase one of the long-term plan. The initial phase involves:

• Constructing a dock wall
• Adding mooring bollards and crane pads
• Dredging
• Resurfacing
• Filling an old slip
• Installing a rail spur
• Assisting with costs to relocate coal piles for C. Reiss

To date, no federal funding has been secured for the project, but Brown County has received $500,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to help purchase the Pulliam property. Besides the requested federal funds, the port will use money from its lease agreements to support phase one upgrades which could total $21 million.

The port has signed a letter of intent to sell 9.7 acres for $875,000 to GLC Minerals for its planned expansion. The transaction will guarantee $7.5 million in investment and the creation of 10 full-time jobs within five years, according to the detailed federal funding request.

The port is also negotiating a long-term lease with C. Reiss for the remaining portions of the property, which will make way for relocating the coal piles and redeveloping 35.5 acres part of phase two.

Phase two includes:

• Acquiring the site
• Remediating the property
• Upgrading the infrastructure to support new residential, commercial and clean industry/port uses

Outside funding is required for the port to move forward, Haen says. Phase two is expected to cost $31.3 million.

Community Outcomes

While moving the coal piles has become a focus of public opinion, the ports future use of the land will have a great impact. The property could become a hub for new terminal operations – providing an economic impact for generations.

Redeveloping the site for port business is expected to generate an additional 20 jobs and have an economic impact of $87 million over five years.

The project will also improve aesthetics and the environmental condition of the neighborhood, which has historically been a low-income area near downtown Green Bay. According to the grant application, relocating the coal piles and cleaning up the land could increase property values by $145 million, spur construction of hundreds of new housing units, provide new public waterfront access and make way for modern, clean industrial development and port growth.

Once funding is secure, the Brown County-owned port will move forward.

To help make this happen, the City of Green Bay and Brown County are pursuing federal Marine Highway Project designation to establish eligibility for U.S. Maritime Administration Port Infrastructure Development Program funds and other grants.

Once this is complete, the port will work with terminal operators to increase operations and begin stimulating the economy through increased property values, new housing and additional jobs.

Local funding will come later through privately funded development of multi-family housing, commercial properties and clean industrial properties. The improvements will boost property values, which will help the city maintain the public infrastructure over time, including new public waterfront amenities.