WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU) — Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Shane Blaser is backing Assembly Bill 682, also known as the second version of the “Mill Bill,” which would provide a $1 million grant to Verso Corporation that would allow them to heat the idled Wisconsin Rapids mill until a potential sale could be finalized.
Blaser says while he hasn’t been able to stump for the bill in-person in Madison, he has made his support known to local lawmakers not only for his community but for Park Falls and many truckers and loggers in Northern Wisconsin as well.
“It helps the timber industry. There’s so many workers, not only mill employees, but the timber industry is the lifeblood of the Northwoods- so it affects a lot of industries,” said Blaser.
The bill, which has passed the Assembly by a wide bipartisan margin, is now on to the Senate who aren’t set to meet again until early 2022. it calls for a $1 million grant for Verso to help them heat the Wisconsin Rapids mill in hopes that a sale can be made and the facility can become functional again. It would also provide a $15 million loan for a group looking to buy the Park Falls facility to help bridge a financing gap in their offer. Governor Evers has not indicated if he would sign it.
He says there are still a handful of employees on the Verso payroll that are performing some maintenance on the facility in case a deal with Atlas Holdings can be reached that would bring it back online in 2022. Being able to heat the plant would also keep the parts in running order and make it more attractive to a potential buyer.
Verso has been in negotiations with Atlas Holdings on a potential sale for a few weeks now. Blaser says he’s not been in on any discussions on the issue, but he does remain hopeful that the two sides can reach a deal that would end with the historic plant coming back online.
Blaser also noted that some additional development is pending for the Matalco facility in the Rapids East Commerce Center. The city is finalizing an expansion of a rail spur into the park that would allow them more efficiency in getting products in and out. Currently, Matalco is trucking those items while the spur is built.
The company is also working on an indoor storage addition to the facility to keep aluminum that’s waiting to be smelted and repurposed out of the elements. Blaser says that’s a safety issue to keep water from being introduced to the process, which can cause an explosion.
Other topics Blaser discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- Mayor Shane’s plans for hunting season
3:30- Rekindle the Spirit Holiday Parade and Small Business Saturday shopping invitation
7:05- Verso update
12:30- Matalco update
