Administrator says "Project Universe" cheese maker has queried county farmland; potential 40-acre sale discussed

County Administrator Michael Lucky updated the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors on informal talks with a prospective purchaser of county-owned farmland at the Food and Beverage Innovation Campus, identified in staff discussion as "Project Universe."

Lucky said Project Universe, described as a cheese maker with an existing Wisconsin footprint, initially sought a roughly 20-acre parcel and later asked whether the county might sell the full 40-acre parcel north of Kikkoman Way. He told the board the developers visited the site and "by the end of the site visit, also requested that we potentially have for sale the full 40 acre parcel lot." Lucky said the group had indicated an expedited timeline and that "we had heard they might be interested in breaking ground as soon as this fall." He characterized the briefing as preparatory so board members would have context if a formal purchase-and-sale agreement is negotiated and brought forward.

No formal action or vote was taken regarding sale of the farmland during the meeting. Lucky said details that might be included in any purchase agreement have been discussed in finance and executive committee meetings, but he did not list specific sale terms in the board meeting.

Why it matters

The county-owned land in the Food and Beverage Innovation Campus is intended to support economic development. A sale of up to 40 acres for a manufacturing or processing operation would be a significant land-use decision for Jefferson County and could accelerate local investment and construction timelines. The board did not authorize a sale; Lucky said the next step would be a negotiated purchase-and-sale agreement that would return to the board for consideration and public notice.

Sources: County Administrator Michael Lucky’s remarks as recorded in the meeting transcript.