Evers administration awards $1.4 million Harbor Assistance grant for Port Milwaukee terminal roof and ventilation repairs

State funding targets maintenance work at Jones Island cargo terminals

Wisconsin has awarded more than $1.4 million in state Harbor Assistance Program funding to Port Milwaukee for infrastructure repairs at terminal buildings on Jones Island, a key industrial hub for the region’s waterborne freight activity. The award was announced Jan. 28, 2026, by Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) as part of a broader statewide package of port-related grants totaling more than $7.5 million.

The Port Milwaukee funding is designated for repairs and upgrades at two facilities used to support maritime commerce and supply-chain operations. Plans include roof repairs at Terminal 2, a 53,000-square-foot building constructed in 1966, as well as installation of ventilation fans at Terminal 5. State officials described the work as intended to improve the reliability and longevity of facilities used by private companies operating at the port.

How the Harbor Assistance Program works

The funding is issued through Wisconsin’s Harbor Assistance Program, a state grant program created in 1979 to help harbor communities along the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River maintain and improve infrastructure supporting waterborne commerce. Projects eligible for the program include items such as dock reconstruction, dredging, and other maintenance and construction needs tied to commercial harbor activity.

To qualify for awards, projects must meet program requirements that include a benefit-cost analysis and inclusion in a current three-year harbor development plan. The program is open to local units of government and private owners of harbor facilities, provided the project benefits facilities used for cargo transfer, shipbuilding, commercial fishing, or regular ferry service. WisDOT identifies project selection factors such as economic impact and urgency, among other criteria grounded in state statutes and administrative code.

Port Milwaukee award is part of seven-project statewide package

The Jan. 28 grant package funded seven projects across Wisconsin ports and waterfront industrial sites. Alongside the Port Milwaukee award, the largest single grant in the package went to a Manitowoc-based recipient for construction of a crane platform and loadout ramp intended to support barge shipping of cranes. Additional awards in the statewide round included dredging projects, dock wall repairs, and public dock rebuilding in Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, Marinette, and other locations.

• Port Milwaukee: more than $1.4 million for terminal building roof, gutter, and ventilation-related repairs on Jones Island
• Manitowoc-area project: $2 million for a crane platform and loadout ramp supporting barge shipment
• Other communities: dredging and dock improvements intended to maintain navigation and cargo capacity

The state and local officials who announced the award characterized the Port Milwaukee repairs as part of a broader strategy to sustain freight movement and maintain port facilities used by tenants and regional supply-chain operators.

What happens next

WisDOT’s Harbor Assistance Program operates on application cycles, with grant deadlines set when funding is available. WisDOT has identified Aug. 1, 2026, as the deadline for the next cycle referenced in recent program materials. For Port Milwaukee, the award establishes the state funding share for the Terminal 2 and Terminal 5 work; project delivery will proceed through the standard design, procurement, and construction steps used for public infrastructure improvements.