City of Brillion receives $250,000 state grant to support downtown renovation project

March 29, 2018

The Brillion News

BRILLION – The City of Brillion has received a $250,000 state grant to support construction of a downtown apartment building.

The Community Development Investment Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will help fund the Calumet County community’s plan to raze the vacant former T&C grocery store on Main Street and replace it with a 40-unit apartment building.

The project is part of the city’s Main Street Square initiative, which calls for the construction of a new city hall with greenspace and enhancements to the existing Brillion Community Center.

“The City of Brillion has spent years developing a comprehensive plan to revitalize its downtown through the Main Street Square effort, and WEDC is pleased to support this project, which will pay long-term dividends for the city,” said WEDC Secretary and CEO Mark R. Hogan, who joined city officials in making the announcement in Brillion on Thursday. “Vibrant downtowns and adequate housing are key factors in attracting and retaining businesses and workers, which is why WEDC works closely with communities throughout the state to help them improve their business districts.”

“We are very pleased and excited our project was chosen to receive this WEDC Community Development Investment Grant,” said Beth Wenzel, chair of the Brillion Redevelopment Authority Commission. “It is providing a huge step forward to converting that block into a vibrant city center.”

The Redevelopment Authority recently purchased the grocery store and is building the apartment building in partnership with Northpointe Development. The $8 million project also includes sewer, water and street improvements.

Construction on the apartment building is underway and should be completed by June 2019. Once completed, the project is expected to add more than $7 million to the city’s tax base, and generate about $154,000 in annual property taxes.

In addition to removing a blighted building from downtown, the project also will help meet the need for workforce housing in Brillion. Officials say many workers at the city’s major employers have a long commute to their workplace, which hampers efforts to attract and retain workers.

The WEDC funding is a matching grant and will help offset site preparation and infrastructure costs. Other funding sources for the project include the Redevelopment Authority; Integrated Public Resources, a public/private partnership; the City of Brillion; and Northpointe Development. #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */