West Allis-based nonprofit manufacturing organization ibMilwaukee has purchased a 42,590-square-foot industrial building in Menomonee Falls after outgrowing a nearby manufacturing facility.
ibMilwaukee, the organization formerly known as Industries for the Blind Milwaukee, bought the building at N94 W14444 Garwin Mace Drive for $2.1 million from Ajr Properties South in Wausau, according to state records. The LLC is registered to John Bocke, president of Wausau Chemical Corp.
The building formerly housed a Kellogg Co. distribution center.
ibMilwaukee operates an existing nearby manufacturing facility at W141 N9400 Fountain Boulevard in Menomonee Falls. The organization purchased the 98,000-square-foot building in June 2017 for $4.15 million. It opened the facility, where it assembles and distributes recruiting kits for the U.S. Navy and Air Force, later that year.
Pat Crain, chief operating officer of ibMilwaukee, said the new building will provide additional distribution space. ibMilwaukee expects the new building to be operational by May. The organization also plans to hire an additional five or six employees.
ibMilwaukee also operates a 100,000-square-foot facility in West Allis and another 4,000-square-foot facility in Janesville.
ibMilwaukee provides job opportunities for blind workers and is a national industrial supplier and distributor of office supplies and furniture, customized kitting and promotional products. The organization was started in 1948 as a way for founder Paul Fryda to provide employment for his brother. Today, it employs about 230 people, about half of whom are blind or visually impaired.
