J.W. Speaker, a family-owned specialty lighting manufacturer, is expanding its manufacturing facility by an additional 140,000 square feet in Germantown, WI. The $46 million expansion project is expected to create 100 new jobs over the next three years.
J.W. Speaker is committed to continuing its growth in Wisconsin, and state and local incentives played a critical role in securing project approval. The project is the largest and most transformational the company has undertaken at a single time.
“Despite the already healthy Wisconsin business environment, we found the state and local funding agencies very welcoming and supportive of our expansion plans,” said Jamie Speaker, co-president of J.W. Speaker.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is supporting the project by authorizing up to $450,000 in state income tax credits over the next three years. The actual amount of tax credits J.W. Speaker will receive is contingent upon the number of jobs created and the amount of capital investment during that period.
“I congratulate J.W. Speaker on this major expansion and commend the company for its continued investment in the state of Wisconsin,” said Mark R. Hogan, WEDC secretary and CEO. “This project further strengthens the Milwaukee area’s economy and opens up new opportunities for workers throughout the region.”
Founded in 1935 by John W. Speaker, the company has grown from manufacturing small tire repair kits to making high-performance vehicular lighting solutions for original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket customers around the world. The expansion will provide the company flexibility for its current operations, help alleviate capacity constraints, and allow for additional expansion in the future.
In addition to the 100 jobs expected to be created by J.W. Speaker, an economic modeling study estimates the project could indirectly generate 75 additional jobs in the region. Those 175 new jobs are expected to generate over $1.7 million in state income tax revenue over a five-year period.
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