March 3, 2022 4p
(WGTD)---Two major Kenosha projects received a big boost from Gov Evers Thursday.
Flanked by various city, county and civic leaders during a visit to the city, Evers announced that $15 million in stimulus funds will be allocated to the Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, and another $9.8 million will help to offset the cost of relocating the Kenosha County Job Center. "These are two huge projects that'll make a difference in people's lives," Evers said at the Kenosha Human Development Services office in Sun Plaza.
The strip mall will become the Job Center's new home after buildings are remodeled and expanded. The existing center is located in a building on Kenosha's south side that has outlived its usefulness. The Kenosha County Board recently approved the relocation project by a vote that was unanimous.
In thanking the governor, Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser said to applause: "This is a big deal."
In addition to workforce development offices, the Job Center is actually home to a variety of human services.
Moving those offices to the new location will bring services closer to the people who need them, Krueser noted, and will undoubtedly spur additional development in the area. With the non-profit Kenosha Human Development Services and Kenosha Unified's Educational Support Center already onsite, additional beneficial synergies will develop, he said.
The Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood--the other project to receive funding--is something that the Antaramian administration has been working on for several years. The 107-acre tract of land in the center of the city used to be home to the Chrysler Engine plant.
The $15 allocation will partially finance the construction of a new home for LakeView Technology Academy and allow it to expand. Some of the money will be used to cover the costs of constructing an incubator building. "This is something that's going to impact this community dramatically," said Mayor John Antaramian.
Crews have been spending the last several years cleaning up contaminated soil at the site. The next phase is the construction of streets and utilities.
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