Posted on January 29, 2026
- WisDOT awarded $7.5 million in grants for harbor maintenance and construction projects in five Wisconsin ports.
- The largest grant of $2 million was given to City Centre LLC in Manitowoc for crane platform and loadout ramp construction.
- Projects include dredging, dock wall repairs, and infrastructure upgrades to support larger vessels and expand cargo operations.
Five harbors and ports will launch expansion and improvement projects with the help of grants to support harbors across the state.
Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday grants totaling $7.5 million for maintenance and construction projects in Green Bay, Manitowoc, Marinette, Milwaukee and Sturgeon Bay.
The state awarded grants through WisDOT’s Harbor Assistance Program, which received $30 million in the last state budget, officials said. Another $20 million was directed in the state budget to complete a port development project at the Port of Green Bay.
“As a state, we’ve made it a priority to help ensure our Great Lakes ports and harbors have the 21st-century infrastructure needed to support a 21st-century global economy, and we’re continuing that forward momentum with these grants that will benefit several of our coastal communities,” Evers said in a statement. “Coastal communities are some of the greatest economic drivers of our state, and these funds will work to ensure these vital communities have the tools and resources they need to thrive.”
The highest award of $2 million went to Manitowoc-based City Centre LLC to build a crane platform and loadout ramp for assembling, testing and transferring Konecranes Inc. cranes onto barges for shipment. The second highest award of $1.4 million was awarded to Port Milwaukee and the city of Milwaukee to fix leaking roofs, gutters and exhaust fans for some terminal buildings on Jones Island.
“Investments like this allow Port Milwaukee to continue serving as an economic engine to our city and the entire State of Wisconsin,” said Mayor Cavalier Johnson in a statement. “We appreciate Gov. Evers and WisDOT’s ongoing commitment to Wisconsin’s ports, and supporting long-term infrastructure investments.”
The state also awarded $1.3 million for the Port of Green Bay and Brown County to dredge an area at the mount of the Lower Fox River that is being redeveloped as part of a larger project to install a dock wall, add fill material and regrade property for a new transload facility, officials said.
Another $1.3 million was awarded for Manitowoc-based Burger Boat Company to dredge an existing dock wall and launch well, which will expand capacity and enable launches of newly large vessels and shipyard repair activities.
Here are the projects supported by remaining grant money:
- $882,000 for Marinette-based Marinette Fuel & Dock to dredge a mooring area to the same depth as the Menominee River to accommodate larger vessels and expand cargo operations;
- $411,000 for Sturgeon Bay-based Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding for dock wall repair and fender system improvements to protect ships during berthing or repairs;
- $188,000 for city of Sturgeon Bay to rebuild a multi-purpose public dock on Nautical Drive, with a section of dock for commercial use and another for recreational use.
“Maritime, rail and truck transportation are the backbone of Wisconsin’s supply chain, connecting our manufacturers and farmers to customers across the country and around the world,” said Kristina Boardman, the state transportation secretary, in a statement. “Every dollar we invest in port infrastructure pays dividends far beyond the harbors – from improved reliability and capacity to lower transportation costs and thriving coastal communities.”
