EXEC. DIRECTOR: AGRIBUSINESS PARK MOVING FORWARD
Thursday, June 24th, 2010 -- 11:48 AM
The new frontman for a group spearheading a proposed agribusiness park and farm innovation center in northern Clark County is attempting to rekindle interest in the idea.It?s been awhile since we?ve heard much about the effort, but Mike Kawleski, the new executive director of the Owen-based Central Wisconsin Agribusiness Innovation Center, says there?s a lot happening behind the scenes.
"It's progressing along really well," he says, adding the City of Owen recently approved connecting infrastructure to the site, across STH 29.
Kawleski says they are in discussions with several different tenants for the agribusiness park, and also for the project?s centerpiece: a $7.5-million, 52,000 square-foot Ag Innovation Center.
"There's at least $4-million right now from the USDA. A lot of programs are in the works. There's a possibility of several million more in grants. It's my job to contact organizations that may want to sponsor different parts of the center, for instance, naming rights," he explains.
The concept for the project covers over 70 acres. It?s been talked about for years, and while progress has been made concerning logistics, no would-be employers have signed-on yet.
"There are a lot of businesses that are interested in the business park itself. A lot of it is strong discussions, but not enough for an announcement yet. Once that first shovel-full is turned over, things will really pop," he encourages.
A groundbreaking is possible sometime next year, according to Kawleski.
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