Contact:
Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661
SPOONER-Gov. Jim Doyle today announced that Burns Best of Spooner, in Washburn County, will receive a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant-Economic Development (CDBG-ED) loan from the Department of Commerce (Commerce) for an expansion project. Commerce Secretary Mary P. Burke made the announcement on behalf of the Governor, and joined company president Donna Burns, Washburn County Board Chair Pete Hubin, and Spooner Mayor Louie Villela for a ribbon cutting.
“My Grow Wisconsin Agenda 2005 calls for investing in manufacturing because it is one of the main drivers of the Wisconsin economy,” Gov. Doyle said. “I am pleased that we could help Burns Best construct a new facility and expand in Northwestern Wisconsin. This project will create 78 jobs over the next three years and represents $3.3 million in new investments.”
“City, County, and State programs, as well as the efforts of Washburn County Economic Development Corporation, all played a major role in the decision to locate our plant in Spooner,” said Donna Burns, president of Burns Best. “With this plant, we expect to become one of the leading players in the fast-growing biomass industry.”
Burns Best offers value-added distribution system for alternative heating dealers, and provides engineering and technical services. The products sold include outdoor wood furnaces, outdoor biomass boilers, peripheral supplies to complete installation, in-floor radiant heating systems, and high velocity air conditioning system. The company is establishing a new 24,000-sq.-ft. facility in Spooner that will have high-speed, high- volume production lines that will result in a lower production cost per unit than its competitors.
The CDBG-ED program awards grants to businesses that seek to expand or relocate to Wisconsin. Businesses interested in the CDBG-ED program should contact their Commerce Area Development Manager. Contact information can be found at www.commerce.wi.gov/MT/MT-FAX-0901.html.
