What Did Menomonee Falls Approve for Milwaukee Tool?
Although the project relies on state-administered incentives, Menomonee Falls approved local actions clearing a path for Milwaukee Tool to move forward with a major expansion effort.
Separately, an Olive Garden has been proposed for White Stone Station in Menomonee Falls, pending village approval.
The actions aligned local review with a $206 million investment supported by enterprise zone tax credits.
Local Approvals Under Tight Conditions
Village votes advanced entitlement steps and confirmed permit conditions required before expansion work.
Design Rules and State Benchmarks
Officials reaffirmed design guidelines for future facilities.
State agreements condition credits on verified spending and full-time hiring by December 31, 2027.
Actual credit value depends on meeting capital and employment targets set by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
These local steps support planned infrastructure and equipment upgrades at existing R&D facilities.
They also reinforce earlier 2021 performance metrics.
Where Milwaukee Tool Will Build in Menomonee Falls
With local entitlement steps in place, the expansion’s footprint is now defined in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
The build area spans more than 91 acres north of Good Hope Road, northwest of the existing facility.
Similar large-scale rezonings elsewhere have prompted calls for an Environmental Impact Statement to address infrastructure and water-supply impacts before development advances.
Site Placement Risks
Site topography and stormwater management must support phased construction through 2038 on multiple parcels.
The campus off Good Hope Road functions as the project’s anchor.
Access and Edges
A private drive is planned to reach Fond du Lac Avenue.
Private road installation is tied to a 2,000 employee threshold.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Acreage | 91+ acres |
| Position | NW of facility |
| Road anchor | Good Hope Rd |
| Future access | Drive to Fond du Lac Ave |
What Milwaukee Tool Will Build: Labs and 750,000 Square Feet
One early phase locks in a 164,000-square-foot renovation.
It will convert an existing building into an electric research and development lab.
The remodel will streamline lab workflows.
It will also track equipment inventory for electric-tool R&D.
In San Diego, Eli Lilly’s 82,514-square-foot Gateway Labs is designed to help early-stage companies reduce capital expenses with flexible, modular lab space.
750,000 Square Feet by 2038
Four phases run through 2038.
Planned construction totals 750,000 square feet.
The buildout is part of a broader, ongoing corporate campus modernization program.
Buildings mix commercial, office, and industrial manufacturing space.
Phasing is intended to protect operational continuity.
Manufacturing and Access Constraints
Industrial additions expand production capacity.
Office areas are sized for up to 2,000 employees.
The projects sit on a 91-acre site north of Good Hope Road.
A private drive will link the campus to Fond du Lac Avenue once staffing reaches 2,000.
How the Milwaukee Tool Tax Incentives Work (to 2046)
Leverage defines the incentive package backing Milwaukee Tool’s Menomonee Falls expansion through 2046.
Local tax increment support pairs with state credits.
The structure is designed to support phased capital spending through 2038.
TID 19 Fiscal Exposure
TID No. 19, approved Feb. 16, 2026, covers 91 acres north of Good Hope Road and five parcels.
It targets $32.8 million of increment over 20 years.
The village returns 80% of receipts via payments through 2046.
State Credits and Oversight
WEDC offers up to $4.5 million in Enterprise Zone credits.
These credits are performance-based and fall within more than $75 million authorized since 2016.
Clawback provisions and audit mechanisms govern eligibility.
Key mechanics
- Increment capture funds reimbursement.
- Payments follow parcel increments.
- Credits vest after verification.
- Reports document investment.
Milwaukee Tool Jobs, Timeline, and the New Road Trigger
Although the Menomonee Falls campus plan remains in early, long-term planning, the employment targets are already setting hard infrastructure triggers. Milwaukee Tool forecasts 2,000 permanent employees on the 91-acre campus by 2038, starting with 300 high-skilled jobs tied to a $42 million phase.
Job Growth Pressure
Facilities include an electric lab, R&D, and office/industrial space.
Statewide headcount exceeds 4,000, intensifying commuter patterns and housing demand near Good Hope Road.
Road Trigger and Timeline Risk
Construction is planned in four phases totaling 750,000 square feet, with TID 19 obligations running to 2046.
A private drive to Fond du Lac Avenue is required only when employment reaches 2,000.
| Milestone | Jobs | Infrastructure |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 300 | Renovation |
| Buildout | 2,000 | Road connection |
| 2038 | 2,000 | 750,000 sqft |
Assessment
Menomonee Falls has cleared a $200 million Milwaukee Tool expansion that reshapes the village’s industrial corridor.
The plan centers on roughly 750,000 square feet of lab and operations space on designated development sites.
A tax-increment-style incentive package would run through 2046, tying reimbursements to verified project value and compliance.
Job creation benchmarks and construction milestones will govern the rollout.
A new road link advances only when specified occupancy and traffic thresholds are met for approval.
