By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer
ASHWAUBENON – Another effort is being made in the Wisconsin Legislature to help finance the construction of the Experience Greater Green Bay Visitor Center.
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Gary Tauchen (R-Bonduel), who is seeking co-sponsors for the bill, would authorize the State Building Commission to use its borrowing authority to award a $2-million, interest-free loan to the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitor Bureau (CVB) to build the center planned in Ashwaubenon near Interstate 41 and Lombardi Avenue off Argonne Street.
If the state loan is approved, the CVB would have up to 20 years to pay it back without interest.
A similar bill, introduced in the last session of the Legislature and passed in the Assembly, didn’t receive final approval by the Senate after the COVID-19 pandemic reached Wisconsin early last year.
CVB Visitor Center Director Cameron Teske said approval of the state loan would make it possible to proceed with the project, which would have the “wow factor” to invite and welcome visitors to the Greater Green Bay area.
In 2019, the Brown County Board of Supervisors voted 20-5 in favor of providing the CVB a $500,000 interest-free loan for building the visitor center.
The board’s resolution calls for the loan to be paid back in 10 years, with no payments required in the first five years and $100,000 payments due in each year of the final five years.
Teske said almost $4 million has been raised so far to build the new visitor center, with the largest contribution being $1.5 million from the Oneida Nation.
Upon obtaining the necessary funding to start building the visitor center, he said the CVB hopes to finish the project within a year.
The CVB has estimated the total project cost between $6-7 million.
Teske said the visitor center’s design plans remain the same as when the project was unveiled in September 2018.
Once constructed, the two-story, 12,500-square-foot visitor center would be managed and programmed by the CVB, which will move its offices there.
The CVB is now in temporary quarters across from the Resch Center, after previously having operated out of the former Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena upon the organization being founded in 1969.
The plans for the visitor center include featuring community spaces and an atrium with interactive displays to highlight attractions in the Green Bay area, the history and traditions of the community and its industries, along with the center having an outdoor plaza and garden.