State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and State Representative Nick Milroy (D-Superior) today applauded an announcement by Governor Jim Doyle to award a $2 million harbor assistance grant to support a dock wall repair project at Gavilon Grain in Superior.

The $2 million represents 80 percent of the costs of the project, which will allow Gavilon to make substantial repairs to a deteriorating dock wall. In addition, this winter the state awarded the third largest Harbor Assistance grant to date of $3.7 million to Fraser Shipyards in Superior to assist with an extensive harbor expansion project. The two lawmakers have communicated extensively with Governor Doyle and Congressman Dave Obey, who have both been strong advocates of the Fraser project, on ways to continue to move forward on this three phase $10 million endeavor.

“The state has seen the importance of these vital investments in the northern Wisconsin industries that support shipping on the Great Lakes,” Jauch said. “These companies are the life blood of the region, but their infrastructure is in need of repair. The Harbor Assistance program is an important part of keeping this economic engine in the north viable.”

The Harbor Assistance funding for the Gavilon Grain dock wall project is now available so that the repairs can be completed this winter. The two lawmakers noted that this assures the need for skilled trades jobs during a time when shipping shuts down as Lake Superior freezes.

“The Harbor Assistance Program represents an important public-private partnership that supports job creation and retention. There is no better example of government actively supporting an industry that provides so many jobs to the area,” added Milroy. “Governor Doyle understands the need to continually invest in our harbors so that Superior will continue to be poised as a shipping destination in the Great Lakes.”

Since coming to the Legislature, Jauch has actively worked to improve harbor assistance funding. As a member of the 2007-2009 Budget Conference Committee, he worked with Governor Doyle to insert $12 million in bonding authority for the Harbor Assistance Program because it has been so successful in helping communities improve their commercial ports.

The Harbor Assistance Program has a long history of providing substantial grants in northern Wisconsin. In 2006 Governor Doyle presented the Superior port with a $1.8 million grant that resulted in Hallett Dock Co. relocating a bulk terminal to Wisconsin. In addition, the Harbor Assistance Program in 2004 awarded $1.1 million to complete dredging and rebuild a 1,250 foot pier at the General Mills grain elevator in Superior.

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