Fredonia-based Badger Paperboard, a custom paperboard converter specializing in packaging and shipping materials, plans to expand its manufacturing operations with a $8 million to $10 million addition that will add about 47,000 square feet to its existing facility at 760 Tower Drive, and add new equipment, the village announced in a social media post.

The expansion is expected to create 15 to 22 new jobs within the first six to 12 months following completion while increasing production capacity to meet growing customer demand throughout Wisconsin and across the nation.

Founded in 1990, Badger Paperboard has operations in California, North Carolina and Texas in addition to Wisconsin. The company moved into a 20,000-square-foot facility in Fredonia in 1999 and built a 30,000-square-foot addition in 2002.

The company “continues to experience strong growth as demand for its paperboard products increases. The expansion will allow the company to increase its product line capacity and better serve both existing and new customers,” the village said in its social media post.

“Our company continues to experience significant growth, and this expansion allows us to keep pace with the increasing demand from our customers,” said Badger Paperboard representatives. “Fredonia is home to our headquarters and an outstanding team that has been instrumental in our success. We are excited to continue investing in the village, support the local economy, and welcome additional employees from the community to our growing workforce.”

The site lies within a tax incremental financing district in the village.

“Badger Paperboard’s expansion in the Village of Fredonia not only helps to make our tax incremental district solvent, but it cements this company as a pillar of our community – bringing jobs, commerce, and new residents,” said Village President Peter Lenz.

The village also announced that Badger Paperboard is in the final stages of securing grant funding through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) for the project.

Credit: Village of Fredonia’s Facebook page. Site plan for the Badger Paperboard expansion. The existing facility at 760 Tower Drive is show in brown. The planned 47,000-square-foot expansion is show in tan. To the right of that is a site for future expansion.