The Stanley location was attractive to RESCO as one of our electric cooperative members—Clark Electric Cooperative—will be the electric utility provider for our facility.  It was very important for RESCO to have one of our own electric cooperative members provide electric service to our facility.”

Matt Brandup, RESCO President and CEO

In order to facilitate the RESCO warehouse and potentially other development as well, the City will build a 400 foot curved extension to Pine Street off Junction at a cost of $410,000 by June 1, 2023, providing one mat of asphalt on said street extension to be completed by Dec. 31, 2023.

Build it and more will come. That’s the idea behind a city financed 400-foot extension of Pine Street to a 40,000 square foot warehouse to be built by the Rural Electric Supply Cooperative (RESCO), a member owned wholesale distributor of high voltage electrical products with seven warehouses, serving the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Montana, Illinois, Michigan, and Missouri.

Its latest warehouse, to be located in Stanley’s East Business Park bordered by Highway X, Junction Avenue and Pine Street, will help the company service that area between its warehouse facilities in Moorhead Minnesota and Middleton, Wisconsin. RESCO President and CEO Matt Brandup shared more on why the company had chosen Stanley for its newest warehouse.

“RESCO chose to build in Stanley, as Stanley is a very central location in the state that allows us to better serve the needs of our 23 Wisconsin electric cooperative members, as well as our municipal electric utility customers throughout the state,” he said. “Additionally, the Stanley location was attractive to RESCO as one of our electric cooperative members—Clark Electric Cooperative—will be the electric utility provider for our facility.  It was very important for RESCO to have one of our own electric cooperative members provide electric service to our facility.”

With RESCO purchasing the 14.98-acre site for a total purchase price of $1,498 last August, the developer’s agreement stipulates a commitment by RESCO to make $5 million of improvements in tax assessment value by December 31, 2024, payable in 2025. Also in the mix are jobs at the site.

“Once operational, we will have three warehouse/delivery personnel positions, with an additional two to three positions added over the coming couple of years,” Brandup said. “Eau Claire-based contractor, Market & Johnson, is handling the construction of the facility.”

Allowing RESCO room for expansion, the total cost is expected to be a large capital investment for RESCO, totaling seven to eight million dollars once completed. Plans call for the 40,000 square foot warehouse to have both a ground floor and indoor mezzanine level, being oriented lengthwise north to south with entrance on the south and a loading dock area on the west. The area around the warehouse will see full restoration after the warehouse construction with a seed mix to establish roots and control erosion.

“Our new Stanley facility represents RESCO’s largest capital investment in the 87-year history of our cooperative, with a projected cost between $ 7 million and $8 million once completed,” Brandup shared. “The new warehouse will be 40,000 square feet and sit on 15 acres of land.  This will allow RESCO room for expansion in the future and will provide substantial outside fenced-in space to store some of our larger finished good inventory, like transformers and underground conductor.”

In order to facilitate the RESCO warehouse and potentially other development as well, the City will build a 400 foot curved extension to Pine Street off Junction at a cost of $410,000 by June 1, 2023, providing one mat of asphalt on said street extension to be completed by Dec. 31, 2023.

Access to the property is to be provided by the City by Sept. 1 under the agreement, with a special warranty deed free of all liens and encumbrances, except with regard to municipal and zoning ordinances and agreement entered into under them. Also excepted are recorded easements for the distribution of utility and municipal services, and recorded building and use restrictions and covenants. RESCO President and CEO Brandup said the company was excited to become part of the Stanley business community.

“We are very excited to become part of the Stanley business community! RESCO has a very long history in Wisconsin in helping our electric utility members provide reliable and affordable electricity to their members and customers, and our new Stanley facility will allow us to serve our members even better.”