The top 10 commercial development projects receiving assistance from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) in 2014 represent capital investments of more than $680 million and are expected to create or retain more than 3,500 jobs.

Topping the list is Meijer’s $146 million distribution center in the Kenosha County community of Pleasant Prairie. The project, which is eligible to receive up to $5.25 million in tax credits from WEDC, is expected to generate 256 new jobs.

The second-largest project of 2014 is a new $88 million production facility for SHINE Medical Technologies Inc. in Janesville. The project, which will receive up to $2 million in tax credits and a $4 million loan, is expected to create 141 new jobs.

Rounding out the top three projects of the year is Schreiber Foods Inc.’s $87 million expansion that is expected to create 160 jobs and retain 545 in Green Bay. The company will receive up to $4.5 million in tax credits for construction of its new headquarters.

Other projects on the Top 10 list are:

No. 4: Niagara Bottling: New $75 million manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie (75 jobs)

No. 5: InSinkErator: $65 million expansion project in Racine and Kenosha (1,062 jobs)

No. 6: Trane Inc.: $62 million modernization of facility in La Crosse (496 jobs)

No. 7: Agropur: $55 million expansion in Weyauwega (168 jobs)

No. 8: Pace Industries: $40 million expansion in Grafton (187 jobs)

No. 9: United Natural Foods Inc.: New $37.5 million distribution in Prescott (314 jobs)

No. 10: Schreiber Foods: $30 million expansion in Richland Center (173 jobs)

“The top 10 projects are significant, but they represent just a handful of the more than 300 businesses and communities that WEDC assisted in 2014,” says Reed Hall, secretary and CEO of the organization. “Whether it is helping multinational companies build new facilities or expand existing operations in Wisconsin, or working with small, innovative startups that need that initial influx of capital, WEDC is here to assist companies of all sizes and sectors.”

The rankings are based on the total capital investment in each project for all projects in which contracts were signed in 2014.

(January 2015)