Douglas County Could Become HUBZone Under Evers Proposal

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Wis (CIVIC MEDIA) – As Douglas County businesses prepare for disruptions caused by the Blatnik Bridge Reconstruction, Governor Tony Evers is pursuing a solution.

In a press release last week, Gov. Evers announced he had sent a letter to the U.S. Small Business Administration requesting that the agency make Douglas County eligible for designation as a Historically Underutilized Business Zone. The push comes as businesses in the Superior area prepare for potential disruptions caused by the Blatnik Bridge Reconstruction Project.

The reconstruction project is currently slated to begin in 2027. The Blatnik Bridge is a critical transportation corridor in the region, carrying around 33,000 cars between Wisconsin and Minnesota each day. The total cost of the project is expected to reach nearly $2 billion. The bridge would close for about five years.

The bridge originally opened in 1961 and has already seen multiple repair projects. Despite the constant upkeep, the bridge has worn down over the years and the maximum weight limit has been reduced multiple times.

Gov. Evers specifically referenced those anticipated economic disruptions caused by the project in his request. In his letter to the agency, he wrote “A HUBZone designation would provide local businesses with additional tools to remain competitive during this period of disruption and help offset anticipated economic losses as well as assist these businesses in the future after completion of the new bridge and the new opportunities that may come with the upgraded infrastructure.”

The designation would allow area businesses to access certain federal contracts that are set aside for HUBZones. Gov. Evers says it would provide new employment and growth opportunities in the region, both during and after the reconstruction. The agency’s decision to either grant or deny the designation would be based on economic and population data.