MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The completion of a crane in Manitowoc brought the governor to the Lakeshore.
Gov. Tony Evers, along with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation held a news conference at Broadwind Heavy Fabrications Thursday.
The crane is supported by a $3.5 million WisDOT Harbor Assistance Program grant, which helps harbor communities maintain and improve port infrastructure.
The crane, designed and assembled by Konecranes with components constructed by Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, will handle 140-ton loads when it is put into service at a U.S. Navy base on the East Coast.
The building of the crane secured existing jobs, created new ones and brought a source of major economic development to the region.
“Generations of folks in Wisconsin have worked hard to build our rail lines, our roads, and our harbors, and we’re proud of the multimodal infrastructure we have in our state,” said Gov. Evers. “This project with the help of our Harbor Assistance Program and the expertise and engineering of Konecranes and Broadwind connects the dots and will secure jobs, create new jobs, and bring a major source of economic development not only to the Manitowoc region but our entire state.”
Other Manitowoc harbor improvements include structural upgrades to the building site and a section of rail that allows this crane—as well as future cranes—to be tested and loaded for transport.
Harbor Assistance Program grant applications are accepted for projects that benefit cargo transfer, shipbuilding, commercial fishing, passenger cruises, or ferry service. The deadline for the next round of grants is Aug. 1, 2021.
