Altoona receives TEA grant to help Curt

The State of Wisconsin announced this week that it has awarded a $625,000 Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) Grant to the City of Altoona to assist Curt Manufacturing Inc. with its expansion project along U.S. Highway 12 East.

The $625,000 grant covers nearly half of the cost of designing and reconstructing a portion of the highway to improve access to the firm's expanded facilities. The City of Altoona is contributing $150,000 and the Department of Transportation is committing an additional $549,167 to help cover the cost of the project.

"This project directly creates 125 jobs and indirectly creates 129 jobs, resulting in $12.6 million in annual wages right here in Wisconsin," said Governor Scott Walker.

Curt Manufacturing, which is investing $9.5 million to construct and equip a 150,000-square-foot warehousing and logistics facility next to its existing 165,000-square-foot manufacturing complex, currently has 346 employees.

Curt Manufacturing, which makes, imports and distributes towing systems, trailer hitches and specialty equipment products, began its expansion project in late 2010.

The company received $400,000 in state tax credits and an $11 million Recovery Zone Facility Bond allocation from the Department of Commerce last year. TBL