Posted Tuesday, August 30, 2011 --- 5:15 p.m.

Press Release from Walmart:

SUN PRAIRIE, Wis., Aug. 30, 2011 – Today, Walmart and officials from the city of Sun Prairie announced that plans have been submitted to the city for the construction of a new 146,000-sq. ft. Walmart store at 1905 Mccoy Rd. in Sun Prairie. Pending city approvals, Walmart will redevelop its existing site by building a new store and encompassing an adjacent vacant space left unoccupied by a former grocery operation.

“We are excited about the opportunities redevelopment of our current site presents for this important corner." said Lisa B. Nelson, senior manager, public affairs & government relations for Walmart in Wisconsin. "The proposal eliminates the vacant building, improves storm water and traffic on the site, and most importantly, will better serve our Sun Prairie customers."

The proposed redevelopment project would get underway in early 2012, with the new 24-hour store with full grocery and pharmacy slated to open in early 2013. The current Walmart would remain open during construction.

Sun Prairie Mayor John Murray expressed his support for the project.

“The new Walmart will not only provide 100 new permanent jobs, but it also will help us increase our tax base and ensure that critical services like police, fire and EMS keep pace with the needs of our city.”

Sun Prairie City Council President, Zach Weber, representing District 3, announced a Sept. 7, 2011 neighborhood meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Sun Prairie Public Library, 1350 Linnerud Drive.

“I hope our citizens will come out for the informational meeting and talk with Walmart representatives about details on this exciting new project,” said Weber. “The new store represents an opportunity to significantly improve an existing building site and also remove an eyesore. It also incorporates many design elements that I think people are going to like.”

The new Sun Prairie Walmart, like all new Walmart stores, will include energy-efficient technology and environmentally friendly features to reduce energy and water consumption and minimize waste. The store’s skylights will harvest daylight and reduce the amount of energy required to light the store by up to 75 percent daily. LED lighting in the store will operate 70 percent more efficiently than traditional fluorescent lighting. Low-flow toilets and faucets will reduce the water used in the bathrooms.

Walmart’s existing Sun Prairie store operates and the future store also will implement a recycling program that includes organic composting and promotes sustainable product purchases.