Defense Firm Targets Marinette Campus for Innovation Hub

Key Takeaways:

• A defense technology company, Aurora Global Defense Systems, is proposing to purchase the former UW-Green Bay Marinette branch campus.
• The company plans to acquire the theater, library, and tech center buildings for $3, with the goal of relieving the county of maintenance liabilities and creating high-tech job opportunities.
• The proposal aims to position Marinette as a hub for national defense innovation, with a focus on robotics, AI, and drone technology.
• The Marinette County board has already approved a plan to sell the Max E. Peterson Fieldhouse to the Greater Marinette-Menominee YMCA.
• The future of the campus is uncertain, with in-person classes having ended in spring 2024 and the county seeking to offload the property.

Introduction to the Proposal
Aurora Global Defense Systems, a defense technology company, has submitted a proposal to acquire the former UW-Green Bay Marinette branch campus. The company is looking to purchase the theater, library, and tech center buildings for a total of $3, which works out to $1 per building. The proposal is part of the company’s plan to establish a presence in Marinette and create high-tech job opportunities in the local economy. With the goal of relieving the county of ongoing maintenance liabilities, Aurora Global Defense Systems believes that its proposal will not only benefit the company but also the local community.

Background on the Campus
The UW-Green Bay Marinette branch campus, which spans 36 acres, has been largely inactive since in-person classes ended in spring 2024. The campus is owned by Marinette County, which has a lease agreement with UWGB that is set to expire in 2042. The county has already taken steps to offload parts of the property, with the Marinette County board approving a plan to sell the Max E. Peterson Fieldhouse to the Greater Marinette-Menominee YMCA last year. The fieldhouse is one of four buildings on the property, and its sale is seen as a positive step towards redeveloping the campus.

Aurora’s Plans for the Campus
Aurora Global Defense Systems’ proposal is centered around the idea of positioning Marinette as a hub for national defense innovation. The company plans to use the acquired buildings to secure major federal contracts in robotics, AI, and drone technology. By doing so, Aurora hopes to create a significant number of high-tech job opportunities in the local economy, which would not only benefit the company but also the community as a whole. The company’s focus on cutting-edge technologies is seen as a major positive, as it would bring a new level of innovation and expertise to the region.

Benefits of the Proposal
The proposed acquisition of the campus by Aurora Global Defense Systems is seen as a win-win for both the company and the local community. By relieving the county of maintenance liabilities, the company would be taking on a significant financial burden that would otherwise fall on the taxpayers. At the same time, the creation of high-tech job opportunities would provide a much-needed boost to the local economy. The proposal is also seen as a way to repurpose the campus, which has been largely underutilized since the end of in-person classes. By bringing new life to the property, Aurora Global Defense Systems would be helping to revitalize the area and create a new sense of purpose for the campus.

Conclusion and Future Outlook
The future of the UW-Green Bay Marinette branch campus is uncertain, but the proposal by Aurora Global Defense Systems offers a glimmer of hope for the property. With its focus on cutting-edge technologies and high-tech job creation, the company’s plan has the potential to bring significant benefits to the local community. As the county continues to explore options for the campus, it is clear that the proposal by Aurora Global Defense Systems is an attractive one. Whether or not the proposal is ultimately accepted, it is clear that the company’s vision for the campus is an exciting one, and it will be interesting to see how the situation develops in the coming months.