BRILLION, Wis. — It’s been 2 years since Brillion Iron Works shut down its factory in Brillion and eliminated nearly 350 manufacturing jobs in town.
On Monday, Ariens Company, the producers of Wisconsin based snow blowers and lawn mowers, announced their plans to redevelop the Brillion property with help from the city.
The Ariens Company purchased the 140 acre plot of land in Brillion just last month. The company says it will be used for much more than just the development of snow blowers and lawn mowers.
An announcement Monday afternoon states the city of Brillion received a $500,000 grant from the state to redevelop the property. The idea is to turn it into light manufacturing space, commercial and results dentist areas, once that money is used to tear down as many as 14 of the 15 buildings on sight.
“It’s kind of a mixed use property," says Mark Hogan, with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. "Some light manufacturing, the acreage will be really significant part of how Brillion will continue to grow for years to come.”
The Ariens Company says they have already refurbished the one building that will remain on site. They plan on hiring as many as 70 additional employees once it’s up and running.
