Green Bay accepts $5 million HUD EDI award to help build new Broadway fire station

The Green Bay Finance Committee voted June 9 to accept a $5 million Economic Development Initiative (EDI) award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development toward construction of a new Broadway fire station.

Deputy Director Buchanan told the committee the federal funds will be applied to plumbing, electrical, mechanical work and interior furnishings in the ongoing project. Buchanan said the grant helps preserve the project footprint and allows the city to keep planned features — including individual dormitories for firefighters, SCBA washing stations and two mothers rooms that will be publicly accessible on the first floor. "This money got us to the point where we could take the footprint we had, the floor plan we had...and really got us to a really good product and fire station that allows for some growth," Buchanan said.

Buchanan also said the funds position the project to potentially accommodate an aerial truck and provide additional storage for large apparatus. Staff said the housing element's financing with WEDA is moving toward finalization and that the development agreement will be brought back to committees in July for more detailed review.

The motion to accept the HUD award carried on committee voice vote. Committee members praised the funding and asked staff to return with final plan details and the development agreement once financing is finalized.