Harley-Davidson Pumps $15M into Tomahawk Plant, Boosting WI Jobs

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Harley-Davidson Inc., the Milwaukee-born motorcycle icon, is investing $15 million to expand its plant in Tomahawk, Wisconsin, adding 37,000 square feet to the north end of the facility for enhanced manufacturing capacity. The project underscores the company's deep Wisconsin roots, where it employs thousands across facilities from the Near West Side headquarters to northern plants. While initial reports mentioned a $100 million Milwaukee engine production upgrade creating 200 jobs, recent developments spotlight this targeted Tomahawk expansion as a key growth initiative.

Tomahawk, a hub in Lincoln County with a population under 9,000, stands to gain significantly from the infusion, bolstering the local economy reliant on manufacturing and forestry. Harley-Davidson, NYSE-listed as HDI, maintains a strong presence in the state, including its historic Juneau Avenue campus once churning out 27,000 motorcycles annually by 1920. The expansion aligns with broader efforts to modernize operations in Wisconsin, where the company originated in 1903.

Meantime, in Milwaukee, Harley-Davidson has shifted gears at Juneau Avenue, transforming former factory lots into Davidson Park, unveiled June 24, 2024. Spearheaded by the Harley-Davidson Foundation and designed by London's Heatherwick Studio, the multi-tiered park features walking paths, a playground, event space, beer garden and green areas donated to the city. Groundbreaking occurred in spring 2024, enhancing the Near West Side community near the headquarters now used for offices and training.

These investments reflect Harley-Davidson's strategy to blend manufacturing muscle with community revitalization in Wisconsin, sustaining jobs and luring talent to the Dairy State.