The City of Port Washington is receiving a $187,000 state grant to help establish a headquarters for a Wisconsin-based chocolate company, a project that will revitalize the city’s entrance by transforming a blighted, unused lot into a welcoming, dynamic business.
The Community Development Investment Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will support the establishment of Hollander Chocolate’s headquarters by renovating a vacant auto dealership located at 1180 S. Spring St. The project seeks to improve the city’s first impression on visitors and residents while bringing economic value to the community.
“One of WEDC’s top priorities is helping communities enhance their business districts and establishing firm foundations for future growth and development,” said Miss Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s leading economic development organization. “This type of revitalization will not only enhance Port Washington’s gateway district but serve as a catalyst for success.”
“The City of Port Washington is very, very impressed with Hollander Chocolate and very pleased that they will be a part of Port Washington,” said Ted Neitzke, Mayor of Port Washington. “We are very grateful to WEDC for collaborating with our developers, our city, and Hollander Chocolate to ensure this project would work.”
Hollander Chocolate and its parent entity, Gourmet Source LLC, have worked extensively with the city’s design review and planning committees to realize the city’s goal of revitalizing Port Washington’s gateway district.
“We want to be the good will ambassadors for the City of Port Washington,” said Doug Podzilni, president and cofounder of Hollander Chocolate. “Our goal with this site is to be as involved as we possibly can with the community.”
The establishment of the Hollander Chocolate headquarters and distribution center in the City of Port Washington is part of a larger plan to improve the city’s gateway district and encourage future development projects in the district. Hollander Chocolate plans to bring all current office personnel to the headquarters and double total employment within 18 months. Additionally, the company plans to expand their retail ventures by creating a coffee shop, museum, gift shop and a chocolate tasting and teaching lab for the public within the space.
Hollander Chocolate is a small, quickly growing start-up company specializing in dutched chocolate products. Hollander Chocolate was founded in Wisconsin and launched in 2017. The company produces café sauces and chocolate powders using Rainforest Alliance Certified ingredients for restaurants, cafes and retail consumers. In its Port Washington location, Podzilni said the company plans on establishing an “innovation lab” where visitors and residents can have a glimpse at the creation process and provide feedback on new and experimental recipes. Hollander Chocolate seeks to put down roots in the community, building an institution that will maximize the benefits to the city and its residents.
“What we have in this site is the ability to bring all our talent into one place, and we want to hire from the talent pool right in Port Washington,” Podzilni said. “We wouldn’t be able to do this without the support of the city or WEDC.”
WEDC’s Community Development Investment Grant Program supports community development and redevelopment efforts, primarily in downtown areas. The matching grants are awarded based on the ability of applicants to demonstrate the economic impact of the proposed project, including public and private partnership development, financial need, and use of sustainable downtown development practices.
From the program’s inception in 2013 through March 2022, WEDC has awarded nearly $34.8 million in CDI Grants to 166 communities for projects expected to generate more than $517 million in capital investments statewide.
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