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Wausau Supply Co. announced plans for a 260,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in West Branch, Michigan, backed by at least $41 million in capital investment. The expansion is expected to create 92 jobs and will receive a $575,000 performance-based state grant.
Wausau Supply Co. announced plans to build a 260,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in West Branch, Michigan, with a capital investment of at least $41 million. The expansion is expected to add 92 jobs and increase production capacity for customers including dealers, builders and contractors.
The new site will expand on Wausau Supply’s existing West Branch operations, which currently employ 108 people, according to the company announcement reported by Hardware Retailing. The company says the facility will serve as a hub for advanced manufacturing. The announcement does not specify what products will be made there, when construction will begin or when operations are expected to start.
The project is expected to create 92 new jobs, bringing additional employment to the area if all anticipated positions are filled. Wausau Supply said it selected West Branch after evaluating other potential locations, including sites in Canada and at its Wisconsin headquarters. It cited the region’s skilled workforce and local partnerships around talent and recruitment as factors in its decision.
The project is supported by a $575,000 performance-based grant through the Michigan Business Development Program. The grant’s performance conditions and payment schedule were not detailed in the report. The company described the expansion as a response to customer demand across its national footprint, but did not provide a production forecast or quantify that demand.
Jobs and Capacity in West Branch
The announcement would bring a substantial manufacturing investment and a projected 92 additional jobs to a community where Wausau Supply already employs 108 people. For West Branch and nearby communities, the project could increase demand for workers and strengthen local connections to manufacturing suppliers and recruitment partners. The job total is an expectation, not a confirmed count of hires.
For customers, Wausau Supply says the additional facility is intended to increase capacity for dealers, builders and contractors served across its national footprint. That may help the company respond to demand, but the available announcement does not say how much output will increase, which product lines will benefit or whether delivery times are expected to change.
The project also adds to the company’s manufacturing network. Wausau Supply reports that it operates six manufacturing facilities and more than 20 distribution centers. The West Branch expansion is therefore part of a wider business footprint, though the company has not described how the new site will alter production or distribution at its existing locations.
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West Branch and Company Growth
The project builds on Wausau Supply’s existing presence in West Branch, rather than establishing an operation in a location where the company has no reported workforce. The firm said it compared West Branch with sites in Canada and at its Wisconsin headquarters before choosing Michigan. Its stated reasons included workforce availability and regional partnerships that could support recruiting.
Hardware Retailing’s October 8, 2026, report characterized the investment as the latest step in a period of sustained growth for the company. It reported that Wausau Supply has a network of more than 20 distribution centers and six manufacturing facilities. The report did not provide a year-by-year expansion timeline or comparable figures for earlier investment projects.
Wausau Supply’s president and CEO, Brian Miller, described the firm as employee-owned. That ownership structure is relevant to how the company framed the job additions, but the announcement did not state whether new employees will receive ownership stakes, or explain any eligibility terms.
“As an employee-owned company, growth like this means something different for us. Every new job in West Branch is also a new ownership stake in our future.”
— Brian Miller, president and CEO of Wausau Supply Co.
Project Schedule and Hiring Details
The announcement does not give a construction start date, completion date or target date for the facility to begin production. It also leaves open which products will be manufactured at the site, the facility’s expected production volume and how operations will be divided between West Branch and the company’s other locations.
The projected 92 jobs are not confirmed hires, and details such as job types, wages and recruitment timing were not included. The report also does not explain the performance targets attached to the $575,000 grant or when funds would be paid. Those details may emerge as the project advances.
Milestones to Watch in Michigan
The next reported milestones are likely to include project scheduling, construction progress and recruitment plans, but Wausau Supply had not announced dates for them in the source material. Further company or state updates could clarify when the facility is expected to open and when hiring will begin.
Readers can also look for details about the grant’s performance requirements and the products or manufacturing processes planned for West Branch. Until the company provides those specifics, the confirmed scope is limited to the announced facility size, minimum investment, expected job creation and state grant support.
Key Questions
Where will Wausau Supply’s new facility be located?
The announced 260,000-square-foot facility will be in West Branch, Michigan, expanding on the company’s existing operations there.
How much is Wausau Supply investing?
The project represents a capital investment of at least $41 million, according to the company announcement.
How many jobs is the expansion expected to create?
Wausau Supply expects the project to create 92 new jobs. The announcement does not provide hiring dates or job details.
Is the project receiving public funding?
It is supported by a $575,000 performance-based grant through the Michigan Business Development Program. The reported announcement does not describe the grant’s targets or payment schedule.
When will the facility open?
No construction or opening date was provided in the source report, so the facility’s expected operating timeline remains unclear.
Source: rss
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