U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $500,000 to Boost the Grow the Environmentally Sustainable Packaging Industry in Wisconsin

Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, edamedia@eda.gov

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $500,000 grant to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, to support expansion of the environmental sustainability of the packaging industry in Wisconsin.

This grant will purchase new environmentally aware testing equipment to expand opportunities in the large packaging and food service ware industry. This EDA investment will be matched with $500,000 in local funds and is expected to create 50 jobs, retain 60 jobs, and generate $7 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“The U.S. Economic Development Administration is proud to partner with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as it leverages an opportunity to diversify the state’s critical forest products and packaging industries,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and External Affairs, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Cristina Killingsworth. “This project will assist manufacturers in validating the recyclability and/or compostability of their innovative packaging solutions and position the region as a global leader in this burgeoning bioeconomy.”

“Since Day One, my administration has been committed to advancing innovative sustainability solutions that harness our state’s proud traditions while meeting the demands of a 21st-century workforce and economy, and this new initiative at UW-Stevens Point will help us continue to do just that,” said Governor Tony Evers. “I want to thank our partners at the EDA and the Biden-Harris Administration for investing in Wisconsin, including our world-class universities like UW-Stevens Point. I’m excited to see how this funding will help bolster our state’s packing industry and build upon our work to create a sustainable, clean economy of the future.”

“Wisconsin’s paper industry supports tens of thousands of good-paying jobs in Wisconsin, generates billions in economic output, and keeps our Made in Wisconsin economy moving forward – and I’m working hard to help them innovate and grow for the future,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin. “This investment will help keep Wisconsin a leader in sustainable packaging, creating more jobs and new opportunities for Wisconsin families.”

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (NCWRPC). EDA funds NCWRPC to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.