Electronic contract manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group has its eye on southeastern Wisconsin as a possible home for a plant, which is now being used to pressure Gov. Scott Walker to fund reconstructing I-94, according to a story by the Journal Sentinel.
Foxconn makes smartphones for Apple and Blackberry. Walker and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder made an unannounced trip to Japan last month “to pursue an undisclosed economic development opportunity,” according to a story by CBS News.
Several sources have told the Racine County Eye that the Taiwanese company is looking at bringing 10,000 jobs to Racine County, but the company is also looking at a site in Michigan. This is the first time, however, the project has been mentioned by state officials.
According to the story:
“Recently, technology company, Foxconn, has indicated its desire to locate in southeastern Wisconsin with up to 10,000 jobs, and yet the (funding) of I-94 North-South through Racine and Kenosha counties continues to be delayed,” wrote Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) and Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), the co-chairman of the Legislature’s budget committee.
Sen. Van Wanggaard said Racine County is working on multiple projects with a number of companies that could bring $1 billion in new development to the region and upgrading the Racine County portion of I-94 is key to drawing that development.
“We need certainty to be the draw around region,” Wanggaard said. “These are family supporting jobs and we need to be developing housing stock. So this will have a domino effect.”