Gresham, Wisconsin Local Business Exchange

A nearly 140-year-old building in downtown Potosi, Wisconsin, is being prepared for a new commercial and residential future with assistance from a $225,910 state economic development grant.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced the investment October 30, 2026.

The project will transform a deteriorating historic building into a mixed-use property featuring restaurant space, a coffee shop, additional commercial activity, and rental housing.

State officials identified the development as an opportunity to support small-business activity and downtown revitalization in Grant County.

Historic Building Will Be Restored

The property is located at 106 North Main Street in Potosi.

Originally constructed during the 1880s, the building has survived three fires and has deteriorated over time.

Local property owner Ray Schink is leading the redevelopment effort.

The project involves restoring the existing structure while adapting its interior for modern commercial and residential uses.

Preserving the building will allow the property to remain part of downtown Potosi rather than replacing it with entirely new construction.

The project is currently in its early stages.

New Commercial Space Planned

The redevelopment includes plans for a coffee shop on the ground floor.

Additional commercial space will accommodate Ace’s Pizza, a locally owned business operated by high school students.

The project also includes a planned basement speakeasy.

These businesses represent different types of commercial activity that could bring customers into the restored building.

However, the October 30 announcement does not identify individual opening dates, projected sales, or specific employment commitments for the businesses.

The commercial spaces remain part of the project’s planned redevelopment.

Rental Housing Included on Second Floor

The building’s second floor will contain two residential units.

One unit is planned for long-term rental housing.

The other will operate as a short-term rental.

The combination of commercial and residential uses is intended to make the property useful for multiple purposes.

Long-term housing can provide accommodations for residents, while short-term rentals may serve visitors seeking overnight lodging.

The announcement does not identify future rental rates or establish when the units will become available.

State Provides $225,910 Development Grant

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is supporting the project through a $225,910 Community Development Investment Grant.

According to state officials, this is the first time Potosi has received a grant from the agency.

The funding is associated with the specific redevelopment at 106 North Main Street.

It is not an announcement of unrestricted grants available to every local business.

The agency’s Community Development Investment program supports qualifying redevelopment projects intended to strengthen Wisconsin communities.

Local Officials Hope Project Encourages Additional Investment

Village officials identified the redevelopment as a potential contribution to downtown improvement efforts.

Restoring an existing commercial building can provide additional space for businesses while addressing the appearance and condition of an aging property.

The project could also create opportunities for commercial activity associated with residents and visitors.

However, no specific increase in downtown sales, visitor spending, or employment has been established.

Those outcomes will depend on the project’s completion and the businesses that eventually occupy the property.

Completion Targeted for 2028

Schink has begun preliminary masonry restoration work, including tuckpointing.

He hopes to complete the redevelopment in 2028.

The announced timeline is a development target rather than a confirmed opening date.

Additional construction, interior improvements, and business preparations will be necessary before the building is fully operational.

For Potosi and Grant County, the project represents an investment in preserving a historic downtown property while creating space for locally operated businesses and additional housing.

A fourth-generation Wisconsin food manufacturer is expanding its production operations through a $47 million investment expected to create up to 27 jobs in Plymouth.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced October 29, 2026, that Sartori Company is expanding its existing cheese-processing facility in Sheboygan County.

The project will add 68,000 square feet to the company’s current manufacturing operation and introduce five additional production lines.

State officials are supporting the investment through performance-based tax incentives.

Production Facility Will Gain 68,000 Square Feet

Sartori plans to expand an existing 106,254-square-foot facility used for processing and preparing cheese products.

The new construction will increase the building’s total area to approximately 174,254 square feet.

Five additional production lines will be installed as part of the company’s longer-term manufacturing plans.

The expansion is intended to accommodate increased production requirements and provide additional capacity for future business growth.

The company identified sustained growth during the previous decade as a factor supporting the investment.

However, the announcement does not disclose specific additional production volumes or new customer contracts.

Family Business Has Operated Since 1939

Sartori Company was founded in 1939 by Paolo Sartori.

The business remains family-owned and has continued operating in Wisconsin across four generations.

Its products include specialty cheeses distributed to customers in domestic and international markets.

According to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the company has received more than 330 awards in domestic and international cheese competitions.

The planned expansion represents additional investment in an established manufacturing business rather than the construction of an entirely new company.

The company continues to identify relationships with Wisconsin dairy farmers as an important part of its operations.

Up to 27 New Jobs Expected

The manufacturing project is expected to create as many as 27 new positions.

The October 29 announcement does not identify specific job titles, individual salary ranges, or a complete recruitment schedule.

It also does not establish that all projected positions are currently available.

Employment growth will depend on the company’s investment and production schedule.

Prospective applicants should review official company recruitment information as the expansion progresses.

Wisconsin Authorizes Potential Tax Credits

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has authorized up to $450,000 in state income tax credits over three years to support the project.

The actual amount Sartori receives will depend on its qualifying capital investment and employment performance.

As a result, the full $450,000 should not be interpreted as money already paid to the company.

The incentive agreement is associated with Sartori’s specific manufacturing expansion.

It does not establish a new grant opportunity for unrelated businesses.

Construction and Equipment Installation Will Continue in Phases

Sartori began construction on the project in December 2025.

The company expects the building expansion to be completed during spring 2027.

Additional production lines will then be installed in phases.

The full project is expected to reach completion in 2030.

These dates represent the company’s announced development schedule and may change as work progresses.

Investment Adds to Plymouth’s Dairy Industry

Plymouth is an established center for Wisconsin cheese production and processing.

The community is commonly known as the Cheese Capital of the World because of its concentration of dairy manufacturing activity.

Sartori’s expansion adds another substantial investment to the area’s existing food manufacturing industry.

The project may also involve construction, equipment installation, and supporting industrial services during development.

However, the state announcement does not identify specific outside contracts or procurement opportunities.

For Plymouth and Sheboygan County, the investment represents a planned $47 million expansion of a longstanding family-owned manufacturer, with additional production capacity and up to 27 projected jobs.

Businesses and residents in seven rural Wisconsin counties are expected to benefit from a newly announced federal investment intended to expand high-speed internet access.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced October 26, 2026, that more than $14.5 million in financing will support a broadband infrastructure project operated by West Wisconsin Telecom Cooperative.

The project will expand fiber-to-the-premises internet service in portions of Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix counties.

Federal officials say the investment is intended to improve connectivity for businesses, farms, schools, and households.

Fiber Infrastructure Will Expand Internet Access

The project involves extending fiber-optic telecommunications infrastructure to individual premises.

Fiber-to-the-premises networks deliver internet connections directly to homes, businesses, and other locations using fiber-optic cables.

These networks can provide high-capacity connections suitable for activities involving substantial data transfers.

For businesses, reliable internet access supports operations such as online sales, cloud-based software, digital payments, remote meetings, and electronic communications.

Agricultural operations increasingly rely on connectivity for business management, equipment monitoring, and access to online services.

Schools and healthcare providers also depend on internet infrastructure for educational resources and digital services.

The planned project is intended to improve access across participating rural communities.

Seven Counties Included

The USDA identified seven counties associated with the investment.

These are Buffalo, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix counties.

The announcement does not identify every municipality, neighborhood, or individual address scheduled to receive service.

It also does not provide a complete construction timeline.

Businesses should therefore avoid assuming that every location within the seven counties will automatically receive a new connection.

Service availability will depend on the project’s final network coverage and construction progress.

Additional information about individual service areas is expected to come from the telecommunications provider.

Federal Financing Supports Infrastructure Development

The investment is being provided through the USDA Telecommunications Infrastructure Loans and Loan Guarantees Program.

The program supports telecommunications infrastructure through direct federal loans and loan guarantees.

Eligible projects can involve facilities needed to transmit and distribute telecommunications services.

The financing announced October 26 is associated with West Wisconsin Telecom Cooperative’s infrastructure expansion.

It is not a grant program offering $14.5 million directly to individual businesses or households.

The federal announcement does not identify separate financial awards for customers purchasing internet service.

Connectivity Remains Important for Rural Businesses

Businesses in rural communities can face limitations when internet infrastructure does not provide the capacity required for modern operations.

Online inventory systems, customer communications, appointment scheduling, and electronic accounting can all depend on reliable connections.

For agricultural producers, connectivity may also support equipment management, market research, and access to government services.

Improved infrastructure can expand the range of digital services available to businesses.

However, the announcement does not guarantee specific internet speeds, subscription prices, or economic outcomes for individual customers.

Those details will depend on the services eventually offered.

What Happens Next?

The USDA announcement establishes federal financing for the cooperative’s planned expansion.

The next developments to monitor include network construction, identification of serviceable addresses, customer enrollment information, and service activation schedules.

Businesses interested in improved connectivity should watch for updates from West Wisconsin Telecom Cooperative.

For the seven affected counties, the investment represents an effort to expand telecommunications infrastructure serving rural communities and their local economies.