Business climate: Sunny and warm

Today's JS:

Nursing home supplier to expand in Milwaukee

By TOM DAYKIN

Direct Supply Inc., one of the country's largest suppliers to the nursing home industry, is moving forward with plans for a major expansion that will add hundreds of jobs to its corporate headquarters on Milwaukee's northwest side.

Gov. Jim Doyle, Mayor Tom Barrett and Robert Hillis, Direct Supply chief executive officer and president, will make "an economic development announcement" Friday at the company's headquarters, according to a statement released Wednesday by the state Department of Commerce.

A city official, who asked not to be identified, said Direct Supply plans to add hundreds of jobs over the next 10 years.

That official - who didn't want to be seen as pre-empting the official announcement - said the company could have 2,000 employees in Milwaukee by the end of that period. The positions will provide family-supporting wages and salaries, the official said.

Direct Supply now has 650 employees within several buildings on N. Industrial Road, north of W. Mill Road and east of N. 76th St.

City and state officials will propose a financing package to help Direct Supply with its expansion, the city official said. He said that would likely include a $10 million city loan, to be repaid through the project's property taxes, and $6 million in state tax credits.

EARLIER: John Gard says business climate is great.