The Chippewa EDC for several years has been wrestling with what to do with the several idle frac sand plants that have ceased operations in the region. Back in the day, the CEDC worked aggressively to recruit several non metallic mining operations bringing over $600 Million and hundreds of jobs to the area. Today the market has changed and the movement away from fossil fuels has opened another opportunity for expanding companies that need rail served sites. One particular idle frac sand location in Chippewa Falls, WI [EOG Facility] was purchased by a private investor. The private investor met with CEDC and the hunt for the next user of the 80 acres began with a collaborative approach.
CEDC has a program that works with entrepreneurs that helps them grow. Enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Chippewa Valley is vitally important for our local economy. So, targeting and working with entrepreneurs that can grow into the former frac sand facility makes perfect sense. For almost a year now, CEDC has had weekly meetings with a group of British entrepreneurs, Chris Gregory and Lesley Blaine, and their company-Collaborative Engineering Services. Founded in Oxford, England, the home of renown university, the company specializes and provides engineering, project management, and consulting services for businesses in the energy and green technology sectors.
With a particular interest in electric batteries, Collaborative Engineering Services began their search for a location to branch out into the United States. Gregory and Blaine discovered the former EOG Resources plant in Chippewa Falls. “We didn’t actually know where Wisconsin was,” Blaine says with a laugh. “We had to Google it first.” Now, less than a year later, the Gregory and Blaine are well on their way to relocating to the Chippewa Valley, where they hope to put down roots!
The process of site selection and community identification has been aided by the CEDC site selection team and investors. The founders were introduced to Walker and the agency in September 2022 and since then they’ve met with Walker via video call almost weekly. Over that time, he and CEDC staff have introduce them to a wide range of people from the community who have helped them on their entrepreneurial journey, from City Council members to bankers to school officials and potential manufacturing partners. “Thanks to Charlie and his team for making us so welcome, and making us feel as though we could set up home and our business in the Valley,” Blaine says.
Gregory said what appealed to them about the EOG site was its size, it’s already zone industrial, and has a rail spur that is large enough to accommodate their needs. “When we visited last September, we knew it could work. ” Gregory said. ”It’s 88 acres. It’s a brilliant facility, however, there will be a lot of renovation required due to its special use construction.”
Collaborative Engineering Services announced that they will be spending between 12 to 15 million dollars in capital expenditures and create up to 40 high paying jobs at the end of 5 years. The goal is by fall 2024 to have a 50,000-square-foot facility open, re-purposing lithium battery packs.