Brew City Brawler

The road to Menard's is paved with taxpayer dollars

How oppressed was Menard's by Wisconsin's anti-business environment?

So oppressed the state only kicked in $1.75 million to fix roads servicing Menards in Union!

From the 9/29/06 Eau Claire Leader Telegram:

The state Department of Transportation is contributing $1 million to improve roads serving Menards in the town of Union.

DOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi presented a Transportation Economic Assistance grant check to Eau Claire County Board Chairman Bruce Willett Thursday.

The $1 million is the state’s contribution toward helping support Menards’ efforts to create jobs, Busalacchi said.

“Investing in quality transportation is vital for businesses that are looking to expand in Wisconsin,” Busalacchi said at Menards’ expansion site. “By providing these funds, we are helping add quality jobs here in Eau Claire County while improving access to Menard’s new headquarters facility.”

The $1 million grant covers a portion of the costs to improve about one mile of Kane Road and one mile of County Line Road. Menards and a Department of Commerce award of $750,000 will cover the remaining costs. The project has a total cost of $2.3 million.

“This project directly and indirectly creates 212 jobs, including at least 200 for Menards, resulting in $5.4 million in annual wages being kept right here in Wisconsin,” Busalacchi said.

Menards is constructing a 56,000 square foot headquarters.

Since it was created in 1987, the TEA grant program has invested $69.3 million in 260 projects benefiting 285 businesses and creating 63,775 jobs in Wisconsin.

As DOT was handing over the check, of course, Menard's already was planning how to shiv the DNR and the state by claiming bureaucrats forced it to put as many as 800 jobs outside the state.

Maybe if the state had picked up the whole tab Menards would have reconsidered?

Menard to Wisconsin: If you want loyalty, buy a dog

From the 11/10/05 AP:

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (AP) - Home improvement retailer Menard Inc. said Thursday it would add about 200 jobs in the Eau Claire area and build a new divisional headquarters after receiving a $4.2 million incentive package from the state.

The company has had a series of disputes with state environmental officials, and a disagreement about separate plans for a new distribution center has prompted the company to threaten to take the project elsewhere.

But company spokeswoman Dawn Sands said the new office building shows company owner John Menard's loyalty to his hometown, where the firm is based.

"He is recommitted to this community," she said. "He could've easily moved this thing anywhere."

The new jobs for engineers, computer professionals, executives and office workers will support the growing operations of the manufacturing division, which makes trusses, boards, doors, concrete, treated wood and steel siding and roofing sold in Menard stores, Sands said.

Helluva guy, that John Menard. He did all that for a measly $4.2 million.

And he waited a whole two months before signing a deal to put a manufacturing/distribution center in Iowa!