August 24, 2007 • Gehl Company has chosen to remain in West Bend, Wis., to expand its research and development and headquarters facilities, thanks to $2 million in grants and loans from the local, county and state governments. Gov. Jim Doyle joined with representatives from the City of West Bend, Washington County, the Milwaukee 7 and Gehl Company to announce the expansion, which is expected to retain 191 jobs and create 87 new jobs for the area.
Gehl plans to construct a new corporate office facility and renovate an existing facility into a research and development center at a total cost of $20 million. The Department of Commerce is providing a $1 million low-interest loan to the company for capital investment and a $700,000 Brownfields Grant to the city of West Bend for environmental remediation in connection with the expansion. The Department of Transportation is providing a $300,000 Transportation Economic Assistance grant to the community for roadway improvements.
Gehl considered another unnamed state for the $20 million expansion, but chose Wisconsin because of the work done by the Department of Commerce, the Department of Transportation, the city of West Bend, Washington County and the Milwaukee 7 to make sure the expansion occurred in Wisconsin.
"Gehl Company's roots in West Bend and the state of Wisconsin date back 148 years,” said William Gehl, chairman and CEO of Gehl Company. “While many things have changed over those years, the company's commitment to developing innovative new products has been constant. This new state-of-the-art research and design center will become the breeding ground for many new products for generations to come. We appreciate the interest and support we have received from the state of Wisconsin, Washington County and the city of West Bend."
The city of West Bend and Washington County are providing incentives totaling more than $5 million.
According to an article in The West Bend Daily News, William Gehl said the company plans to begin interior construction and build-out of the new facility early in the first quarter of 2008 and have it fully operational in the third quarter. The company plans to complete its new office complex in spring 2009, which will also be the 150th anniversary of the company.
