Milwaukee will soon become the North American headquarters for two Spanish manufacturing companies. The city's efforts to rejuvenate various brownfields throughout the surrounding downtown area have begun to grab the attention of international companies. Proximity to transit, TIF financing and new market tax credits make these brownfields an attractive place to locate manufacturing facilities.

Bilbao, a Spanish renewable energy company, plans to build a $15 million, 114,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Milwaukee's Menomonee Valley. Bilbao manufactures Indar generators and converters for the wind energy industry and inverters for the solar energy industry. The company expects to break ground in April and commence manufacturing operations early next year.

The Menomonee Valley was chosen after considering 80 sites across the U.S. The company cites tax credits, business climate, supply chain, manufacturing base and alternative energy education, provided by area universities, as factors in their decision.

In 2009 the Menomonee Valley was awarded the 2009 People's Choice Phoenix Award for outstanding brownfield redevelopment. The Menomonee Valley is home to six existing newly constructed facilities which employ 700 people. Bilbao plans to add 50 to 60 jobs to the existing 700 jobs in the first quarter of 2011.

Read more at Biz Times Milwaukee  

 

Talgo Moves into Existing Tower Automotive Site
Spanish train manufacturer Talgo, plans to move into an existing building on the former Tower Automotive site. According to City Development Commissioner Rocky Marcoux, the authority will refurbish the building, leasing around 133,000 square feet to Talgo.

The company forecasts the plant will house 125 new jobs. The state has translated that into an additional 450 indirect jobs.  
Milwaukee has plans to redevelop the 84-acre, former Tower Automotive site. Upon completion the site will house an estimated 700 to 1,000 mixed use jobs, including light manufacturing and business operations.