Wisconsin Co., Century Fence expands to Wilton with $4.4M in annual economic impact

Century Fence, a leader in the fence and pavement marking industries has expanded to Wilton, Iowa. With $4.4M in annual economic impact for our region, the 105-year-old Pewaukee, Wisconsin company is currently breaking ground for a 10,000 square foot building on 10 acres of land.

"We would not have found this ideal location without the help of the Quad Cities Chamber," said Jason Calvert, Branch Manager for Century Fence. "Wilton is a great location for so many reasons. It was affordable, and we have plenty of room for our operations."

The search for a site began over a year ago with the Quad Cities Chamber team, who conducted an extensive search for a location. Ultimately, the site in Wilton was chosen, culminating in a groundbreaking on October 23. 

"We're excited about Century Fence expanding into Wilton and the Quad Cities region. This growth is a testament to the power of true collaboration between the Quad Cities Chamber, Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance and Century Fence working together to bring new opportunities to our community," said Tami Petsche, Vice President, Business Attraction for the Quad Cities Chamber. 

"Century Fence is a strong, fourth-generation company that continues to grow and prosper," said Becky Allgood, Director of the Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance. "Over the years they have provided good jobs, a stable environment and the best leadership. We're very lucky that this industry made the decision to join us here in Wilton."

With a machinery and equipment investment of $600K, Century Fence's Wilton location will fabricate, assemble and warehouse fences and gates. Their goal is to employ up to 10 people when operations begin in early-to-mid 2025. Calvert says he's proud to work for a family-owned company who truly cares about their employees, and is pleased to help bring this opportunity to Wilton. "We hope to add a number of different jobs to this location from drivers to office managers -  and I forsee us growing to between 20 and 25 people, and possibly adding another building or two in the next 5 years," he said. 

Allgood said she was a huge supporter of partnering with the Quad Cities Chamber to find a location for Century, and believes the way to success is for everyone to work together for the common good. "We invite new business and industry to invest in our area," she said. "We are a prime location, close to main interstates, rail and major airports. We also have great schools, infrastructure, housing initiatives and amenities that make our area very attractive to industries looking for a stable environment to place and conduct business."