Port Milwaukee Jones Island agricultural export facility opens

MILWAUKEE - A new facility at Port Milwaukee is now transporting Wisconsin-made products all around the world.

From semitrucks to rail cars to boats that can sail anywhere in the world, a new shipping facility for agricultural products had a grand opened Tuesday, July 18. 

"Wisconsin's agriculture will have a new resource right here in Milwaukee," said Mayor Cavalier Johnson. 

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

A news release said the $40 million investment that will create jobs, support Wisconsin’s agriculture industry and grow the regional economy. It's the largest one-time investment in Port Milwaukee since the 1950s.

"This project is a win for any agricultural industry in Wisconsin," said Gov. Tony Evers.

Johnson said it's especially a win for jobs and the economy. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation estimated the terminal will generate $63 million in new statewide economic impact annually, increasing exports through by as much as 400,000 metric tons per year. 

"This is big deal, because this terminal will bring more than $60 million in new statewide economic impact annually," he said.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.

It starts with semis and rail cars bringing in animal feed and other agricultural products. A vessel loader loads everything up, and the Wisconsin-made goods begin their journey across the globe – putting Wisconsin agriculture on the world map.

The facility is fully operational and, in June, it successfully loaded its first vessel of Wisconsin-produced animal feed to the U.K.  Crews said the next ship is coming next month.

The facility, located on the west side of Jones Island, is the first of its kind on the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence Seaway system to handle various agricultural commodities, according to the release.