Badger State plans to relocate and expand

Badger State Inc., 2600 Mercantile Dr., Eau Claire, received approval this week from the City of Eau Claire Plan Commission to construct a 14,000-square-foot facility along Ventura Drive in the Gateway Business Park.

Badger State, which specializes in commercial and industrial plumbing, HVAC and piping installation and service, was founded in 1977. Fred Gardner is the president.

Badger State Business Development Manager John Ebert said the $1 million project includes the acquisition of about two acres of land from the Gateway Industrial Development Park Corp.

"We have outgrown our current facility because of the growth of our business. We hope to break ground in mid-June and be in the new facility sometime in October," said Ebert, who added that the new facility will feature a new fabrication area so general contractors, architects and engineers can show their clients how energy-saving technologies can be used in their new buildings.

Badger State Inc., which has already hired additional staff prior to construction, will likely add a few more workers in the next year, according to Ebert. He said the site plan also calls for a 5,000-square-foot expansion in the future.

"We have about 50 employees now, but over the next two or three years, we could possible have as many as 65 employees," he said. TBL