FoxConn

Foxconn is a $136 billion company, and they are looking at Racine County for their next plant. Here is what is happening and what you need to know.

Foxconn is a Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturing company. The company was founded in 1974. They are best known for making Apple products, but also make technology for other companies. It is the largest private employer in China and one of the largest in the world.

Foxconn plans to build a facility in Wisconsin. It will be the first U.S. based Foxconn plant. The Foxconn facility will be the largest economic development project in Wisconsin history. The plant will manufacture liquid display screens for computers, televisions, and even self-driving cars. The factory would total up to about 20 million square feet.

Governor Scott Walker declared “the plan for Foxconn to break ground 2018 with the plant opening in 2020.” Foxconn plans to initially hire 3,000 workers.

Walker said hiring will start “almost immediately.” Jobs will include engineers and skilled workers with an average salary of $53,875 a year.

The Wisconsin assembly approved legislation on Sept 9, 2017, enabling up to

$3 billion in incentive for the Foxconn factory in Racine County. The vote ended as 64-31 in favor. The bill was then sent to Governor Scott Walker who helped recruit the company to Wisconsin. Governor Walker signed the bill on Sept 18. Recently, Kenosha withdrew its bid to build the Foxconn factory in Kenosha County.

The mayor of Kenosha, John Antaramian, stated “Throughout this planning process, we have been consistent in our belief that without significant adjustments to specific current state laws impacting local municipalities, we would be unable to support and/or absorb the development of the project.”

He also said, “Based upon the current status of the legislative bill which addresses the project, the City of Kenosha regrets that we will not be able to support this development in our community.”

The Kenosha mayor said, “We wish you, the state and Foxconn all the best in finding reasonable resolutions to all of the issues surrounding this project.”

Others along with the mayor think that Foxconn will not be such a good idea. Foxconn does not want any restrictions on how they use their land and the environment around Racine. It would allow Foxconn, without permits, to discharge dredged materials, fill wetlands, change the course of streams, build artificial bodies of water that connect with natural waterways, and build on a riverbed or lakebed. Some people are also worried that Foxconn will not repay their debts.

On a positive note according to Chris neff, an administrator for RUSD, Foxconn has plans to include RUSD students for many intern offers.