By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU – City leaders will soon unveil a $7.95 million plan to help Wausau Chemical relocate its riverfront facility to a west-side location, away from the city’s water source.
Mayor Robert Mielke will on Thursday address reporters on the proposal, which would shift operations to the city’s Business Campus. The campus, established in the early 1990s, is home to over 60 businesses including Linetec, Wausau Coated, O-Motion and Eastbay, among others. Wausau Chemical has operated at its River Drive location for more than five decades.
The relocation would be funded by a special tax district created by the new Wausau Chemical facility and not through the city’s general fund, according to a news release issued Wednesday. Construction costs are projected at more than $10 million.
In the release, Mielke said, “Relocating Wausau Chemical is expensive, but these costs have only continued to rise. Our work to redevelop our urban waterfront is one of the best investments a city can make.” The new facility would allow Wausau Chemical to expand, Mielke said.
Two years ago, city leaders explored options for moving Wausau Chemical but balked at the then-$6.9 million price tag. An independent engineering team has since conducted a study to determine the most cost-effective plan.
Wausau Chemical Corporation is a family owned manufacturing and distribution business that began in 1962. The company packages, produces and distributes chemicals for a wide range of applications including dry cleaning, laundry, dairy farming, water treatment, janitorial, printing, metal finishing and proprietary formulations.
The main office is located in Wausau with a branch location in Butler.
