WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) applauded the announcement that Wieland will be making a $500 million capital investment to re-equip, expand and modernize its facility in East Alton. Wieland is a leading global supplier of copper and copper alloy solutions. 

“Wieland has supported good-paying jobs and economic growth in East Alton for more than 100 years,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “Today, I’m thrilled to applaud the news that Wieland will be making a $500 million investment in this critical local facility. During my first year in office, I was glad to visit the plant in East Alton and work alongside Governor Pritzker and Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to support opportunities for reinvestment right here in the Metro East. I’m particularly grateful for Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity team for their leadership, and I was honored to be able to submit additional federal support as part of the Community Project Funding process. I look forward to seeing this investment benefit the working families I’m so honored to represent.” 

“Today’s announcement is about leveraging Wieland’s more than 200- year history to build upon the 100-year history of our East Alton facility,” said Greg Keown, President of Wieland Rolled Products North America. “I’m incredibly grateful to Governor Pritzker, Deputy Governor Andy Manar, Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski, the team at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Mayor Darren Carlton, and Madison County who worked tirelessly to make this project a reality. This is a shining example of how public-private partnerships are intended to work.”

The expansion project planned for East Alton will involve installing a new state-of-the-art hot rolling mill, enabling Wieland to enhance the production of essential copper and copper alloy components used in advanced energy applications like electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging infrastructure and renewable energy production. Through this significant facility expansion, Wieland aims to improve operational efficiency and maintain elevated standards of quality and reliability across its entire portfolio of copper and copper alloy rolled product solutions.

Congresswoman Budzinski visited the Wieland facility in East Alton during her first year in office and worked alongside Governor JB Pritzker and Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth to identify federal and state grant opportunities with the goal of lowering production costs and creating an opportunity for long term investment in the Wieland’s East Alton facility. Congresswoman Budzinski was proud to submit a request for Community Project Funding to support increased capacity at the East Alton Water Treatment Facility – upgrades that would benefit both industrial and residential customers in the area. 

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