NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) – A longstanding Fox Valley business could be moving across the water from Menasha to Neenah.
Officials with Gunderson Uniform & Linen confirmed to Local 5 News that they are working with the city of Neenah to relocate their headquarters to a plot of land on Dixie Road in Neenah.
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“We’re grateful for the warm welcome from the City of Neenah and excited to see the enthusiasm around our growth,” owners Doug and Sara Gunderson told Local 5 News in a statement. “As a longtime Wisconsin-based family business, we’re proud to be taking this next step and look forward to sharing more details as plans develop.”
On Monday evening, Neenah’s finance and personnel committee greenlit the land sale and financing plan for the move to happen. Next week, the Common Council must give its seal of approval before the parties can proceed with the project.
“Anytime that we can retain a business in our area, it’s a win for the community and the region as a whole,” said Kelly Nieforth, who is the community development and assessment director for the city of Neenah. “Helping a business grow is a great thing.”
Under the terms of the potential agreement, Gunderson officials would buy the 13-acre plat of land from the city of Neenah for $390,000. They will build a 75,000 square foot industrial laundry facility, and the city would contribute up to $1.7 million in tax incremental finance assistance to support the development.
Neenah officials tell Local 5 News that there wouldn’t be an additional tax burden on city taxpayers.
Gunderson Uniform & Linen currently has a facility in downtown Menasha on Main Street. According to agenda notes from the Neenah committee meeting on Monday, the company wants to move to Neenah to ‘accommodate their projected growth and improve the efficiency of their business.’
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Not everybody is excited about this news, including Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond.
“It’s certainly a sad day when a company leaves your community, particularly one that is invested like this with Gunderson having their business right in our downtown,” he told Local 5 News.
Neenah officials pointed out that Gunderson Uniform & Linen will still be in the Fox Valley if the move does happen. They say the move can still benefit both communities.
Mayor Hammond said if this does happen, he hopes that new businesses can come to Gunderson’s current location. Officials with the company said they don’t know what they will do with the building in Menasha if they do move their operation to Neenah.
