Nueske’s wins statewide Business Retention and Expansion award - WHEDA financed major expansion of Nueske’s facility

Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats has won the Business Retention and Expansion award from the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA). The award recognizes economic development efforts that focus on retaining and growing businesses within communities and regions.

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) awarded Nueske’s $11.5 million in New Markets Tax Credits and $2 million in a participation loan with PNC Bank to help finance a 110,000+ square foot expansion of Nueske’s facility in Wittenberg, Wisconsin in Shawano County. The project will retain Nueske’s 154 existing positions while also creating 66 new jobs over the next three to four years, as well as allow for continued growth. 

“It means so much to us to continue to flourish over the past 83 years in the Central Wisconsin area, where a strong work ethic thrives and our team is completely dedicated to our products, each other and the community,” said Glenn Gazzolo, President of Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Meats. “Wittenberg, Wisconsin is a buzz with the day-to-day hustle and bustle revolving around the progress of our expansion project.  We have had an outstanding response from Wisconsin-based contractors and we are proud to report that a significant amount of the project dollars remain within this wonderful state.”

“I’m delighted that Nueske’s has won this prestigious award,” said Wyman Winston, Executive Director of WHEDA. “WHEDA is extremely pleased to have partnered with Nueske’s through an allocation of New Market Tax Credits and a participation loan that will allow for the expansion of their facility and the continuation of a long and proud heritage. Nueske’s is an outstanding family-owned Wisconsin company known across the country for its extraordinary smoked meats, and deserving of this recognition.”

  Nueske’s, a third-generation company that started in 1933, manufactures and specializes in Applewood smoked products.  An expansion plan became necessary because Nueske’s was producing near its current capacity and additional business was being turned away due to production limits.

WEDA’s 2^nd annual Community and Economic Development Awards banquet was held on September 14, 2016, at The Edgewater in Madison.  WEDA and its partner organizations developed the Community and Economic Development Awards program to recognize best practices and economic development-focused groups that are making their community or region a better place to live, work and play.

“WEDA is excited that our program is able to celebrate the dedicated efforts of local, county, regional, state and private organizations in advancing our state’s economy,” said WEDA Executive Director Brian Doudna. 

WHEDA is an independent state authority that works with lenders to provide low-cost financing for housing and small business development in Wisconsin.  For more information on WHEDA programs, visit www.wheda.com or call 1-800-334-6873.