By Taylor Hale

Staff Writer

STEVENS POINT – Local officials gathered to kick off the Sunrise Point Revitalization Project on July 22.

The location, on Joerns Drive in Stevens Point, is slated to be the home of the upcoming Mid-State Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Apprenticeship Center.

The state-of-the-art project is estimated at around $9 million. The facilities will help train and retain skilled workers in the central Wisconsin area.

The location, on Joerns Drive in Stevens Point, is slated to be the home of the upcoming Mid-State Advanced Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology, and Apprenticeship Center. Taylor Hale photo

Area entrepreneur Wayne Bushman donated the land for the project. This year was Bushman’s 50th anniversary since his time at Mid-State, when he trained as an electrician, and he sees the donation as a way to “pass on” his gratitude for the school.

“When you get to be my age, you have a bucket list, and this particular project was No. 1 on my bucket list,” Bushman said, “to get this school up and running.”

The new facilities will equip students with training on state of the art equipment and work placement opportunities.

Mid-State President Shelly Mondeik noted that an expansion was discussed for about three years, and she feels it will help grow the regional workforce.

“This center will definitely meet the needs that we see in the manufacturing industry as far as the workforce shortage, and to prepare central Wisconsin for Industry 4.0,” Mondeik explained.

Mayor Mike Wiza noted that the new facilities would be a “legacy location” in the community.

“This is a foundational project where generations from now, this facility will still be here training people and creating jobs,” he said. “Something like this is something that’s going to continue to grow and be a benefit for the community for generations to come.”

Other aspects of the revitalization process include a Gambler-Johnson expansion and renovations to the former Joerns facility.

Fundraising for the project has started. Mid-state hopes to have the required funding by the end of 2021.