LOCAL COMPANIES BENEFIT FROM FOXCONN CONSTRUCTION WORK

With massive construction efforts underway on Phase I of construction on the Foxconn project site, the Racine Journal Times reports that local companies are seeing expanded business opportunities as a result. " The enormity of scale of the project is not easily conveyed ," said Adam Jelen, Senior Vice President and Project Principal for M+W | Gilbane. "Crews are currently depositing about 100 to 200 dump truckloads of aggregate, or gravel, daily." This aggregate is coming from three main places - Waterford, Sussex and New Berlin. Chris Alby, of Super Aggregates in Waterford, expects his company to provide about 50 to 60 truckloads per day to the Foxconn site, has hired three additional people and has added 10 additional trucks. " We're producing at our highest rate ever ," said Alby. " We're blessed with it, it's amazing for our employees our business ." Read the full story in the Racine Journal Times .

VILLAGE APPROVES REDEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR FOXCONN PROJECT AREA

The Mount Pleasant Village Board voted on Monday night to approve the redevelopment plan for the Foxconn project area. This plan, previously recommended by the Mount Pleasant Community Development Authority (CDA), gives the CDA the authority to issue double tax-exempt bonds, saving the Village millions of dollars . "The approval of the redevelopment plan is one more sign of progress toward Foxconn's $10 billion, 22-million-square-foot advanced manufacturing campus," said David DeGroot, President of the Village of Mount Pleasant. "It paves the way for the Village to save millions of dollars by providing the CDA the authority to issue double tax-exempt bonds." " The approved redevelopment plan will not change the Village's approach to property acquisition ," said Alan Marcuvitz, an attorney for the Village of Mount Pleasant. "As it has done since the beginning of this process, the Village will continue its efforts to acquire all property needed for the Foxconn development through voluntary agreements with property owners."

More information is available here .

JENNY TRICK: "WE WILL LOOK BACK ON THE FOXCONN PROJECT AND SEE A GREAT SUCCESS STORY"

Jenny Trick, Executive Director of the Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC), recently commented on the parallels between BMW's investment in manufacturing in Spartanburg County, South Carolina and Foxconn's investment here in Racine County. " In 1993, BMW made an historic investment in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, pledging $600 million to create 2,000 jobs — an investment that was met with significant local skepticism. Two decades later, BMW has far exceeded expectations , investing more than $8 billion and creating 10,000 jobs," said Trick. " Here in Wisconsin, we’re anticipating even more employees . Foxconn has committed to hiring 13,000 full-time employees — at an average pay of $53,875 plus benefits. I am confident that in a decade’s time, we’ll be hailing Foxconn as a similar success ." Click here to read the full commentary in the Racine Journal Times .

VILLAGE AWARDS WISCONSIN CONTRACTORS WITH FIRST DEMOLITION WORK TIED TO FOXCONN PROJECT

The Village of Mount Pleasant recently voted to award Fond du Lac County-based Guelig Waste Removal And Demolition LLC (Guelig Waste Removal) with the first two contracts to conduct initial demolition work tied to Foxconn's advanced manufacturing campus in Racine County. The bid team includes four other Wisconsin-based companies. "We look forward to taking another major step in preparing for construction of Foxconn's Wisconn Valley Science and Technology Park," said Claude Lois, Project Director for the Village of Mount Pleasant. "In keeping with our commitment to Wisconsin First, the awarded team includes five Wisconsin-based companies as well as a woman-owned enterprise ." This initial demolition work will focus on properties along Braun Road. More information about the contract award is available here .

WISCONSIN RECEIVES $160 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR I-94 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

On Wednesday, June 6, Governor Scott Walker announced that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation received a $160 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) Grant to assist in funding construction of the I-94 North-South Freeway Project in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee Counties . “We are thrilled with today’s announcement that $160 million in federal money will be directed to southeastern Wisconsin to help rebuild Interstate 94," said Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave. "With Racine County preparing for massive growth in the coming years, the INFRA grant is crucial to upgrading our infrastructure and improving this critical corridor for our community .”  This record-setting federal grant will open all lanes to traffic by Memorial Day weekend of 2020 with full completion by 2021, 11 years ahead of schedule. The I-94 North-South expansion project began in 2008 and stretches 36 miles from the city of Milwaukee past the Wisconsin/Illinois state line. Click here to see a news release from County Executive Delagrave and here to see what other local leaders had to say.

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO HOLD INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE MEETING

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will hold a construction update meeting regarding roadway improvement project associated with the Foxconn development and the I-94 North-South project on Thursday, June 14 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the SC Johnson iMET Center in Sturtevant (2320 Renaissance Blvd). The purpose of these meetings is to share current construction status and provide a preview of work expected in the following month. The update will also include a summary of current and upcoming roadway closures. DOT staff will be on hand to answer questions. For more information on roadway improvement projects surrounding the Foxconn project area, click here .

UPCOMING MEETINGS / EVENTS

On June 13 , Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave will host his monthly listening session at Mount Pleasant Village Hall (8811 Campus Drive) from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. On June 14 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., DOT officials will hold an infrastructure update meeting at the SC Johnson iMET Center (2320 Renaissance Blvd). On June 18 Village of Mount Pleasant officials and project partners will hold a monthly Foxconn Project Briefing at 6:00 p.m. at Ebe Auditorium at Mount Pleasant Village Hall (8811 Campus Drive).  Upcoming meetings and events can be found in the event calendar on our website, FoxconnRacineCounty.com.