Gov. Walker: Announces United Alloy Inc. to expand operations in Janesville

Manufacturer expects to create 66 jobs with $15 million expansion project

“We made our final decision to locate in Janesville because of our proven successful track record of attracting Wisconsin employees capable of building a world class organization,” said Tom Baer, founder and owner of UAI.

The new 100,000-square-foot facility will be located on a 17-acre lot adjacent to the company’s existing building on Kennedy Road. The $15 million project also includes a 7,500-square-foot addition to the current facility and the installation of new equipment at both buildings. The new facility will include an entirely new painting system that would occupy about one-fourth of the building, while the rest of the facility would be use for assembly and loading areas for trucks.

Construction on the expansion will begin in March and is expected to be completed by January 2019.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is supporting the project by authorizing up to $560,000 in state income tax credits over the next three years. The actual amount of tax credits UAI will receive is contingent upon the number of jobs created and the level of capital investment over that time.

“Rock County has seen an economic resurgence in recent years and WEDC is pleased to have played a role in that turnaround,” said Mark R. Hogan, secretary and CEO of WEDC, who joined Governor Walker and company officials at today’s event. “Since 2011, WEDC has made more than $83 million in business and community investments in Rock County, including $33 million to companies for projects expected to retain or create more than 8,200 jobs, and generate more than $600 million in capital investment.”

WEDC also has approved an allocation of up to $10 million in Industrial Revenue Bonds to the City of Janesville to provide financial support for the project. The city will issue the bonds on behalf of UAI, and proceeds from the sale of those bonds will help finance the construction. The city also sold UAI 17 acres of land for the expansion for $1, and provided the company with $394,000 in forgivable loans to help bridge a financing gap for the project.

“The City of Janesville is excited about UAI’s expansion in our community. UAI is a company native to Janesville that continues to grow, creating jobs and complementing the city’s efforts to build a strong, diverse local economy,” said Janesville City Manager Mark Freitag. “At the end of 2017, Janesville had a 2.7 percent unemployment rate, a record low since the Department of Workforce Development began collecting data in 1990. This exciting statistic is due in part to companies like UAI that see Janesville as a great place to do business and enjoy a great quality of life.”

“This expansion is yet another example of the thriving manufacturing environment that exists within the Janesville-Beloit metro area,” added James Otterstein, economic development manager with the Rock County Development Alliance. “UAI’s continuous investments demonstrate the important role that public/private partnerships perform with respect to fostering economic prosperity.”

UAI, which was founded in 1999 by Baer, is a preferred designer, manufacturer and powder coater of certified metal tanks, skids, frames, trailers, chassis and related products crafted to world-class quality standards in strategic partnership with Global Fortune 500 OEM customers. The company has expanded several times in Janesville to accommodate its increased growth and investment in new technology. In 2017, UAI opened an assembly plant and distribution center in Seguin, Texas, to better serve customers in the southeastern United States.