INFORMATION SESSIONS FOR CONTRACTORS

The second round of information sessions have been announced to provide companies with details on the bidding process for the next phase of construction on Foxconn's advanced manufacturing campus in Racine County. The information sessions will take place as follows, with two sessions held in Racine on August 1st: Wednesday, July 25th in Green Bay Thursday, July 26th in Eau Claire Wednesday, August 1st in Racine Thursday, August 2nd in Madison The information sessions are open to all businesses, though they are specifically aimed at companies providing goods and services in construction logistics, roadways, site utilities, foundations, structure, enclosure, mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, materials and equipment . These sessions will also include: An update on the construction schedule, with a focus on the next 12 months; and A detailed timeline on the next anticipated round of bidding. Representatives from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Foxconn Technology Group, M+W | Gilbane will be on hand to answer questions about the project. Advanced registration is required . For more information and to RSVP, click here .

FOXCONN TO OPEN FOXCONN PLACE CHIPPEWA VALLEY IN DOWNTOWN EAU CLAIRE

Foxconn Technology Group announced Monday that it is expanding its Wisconn Valley Innovation Network to West Central Wisconsin as part of its initiative to spur innovation, attract talent and connect with supply chain partners. The new center will be named Foxconn Place Chippewa Valley, and will create at least 150 high-tech jobs in Eau Claire . "We are excited to expand our Wisconn Valley footprint to the Chippewa Valley and West Central Wisconsin. Our goal in establishing Foxconn Place is to help inspire innovative ideas, attract talent and catalyze cutting-edge solutions in this part of the state ," said Alan Yeung, Foxconn's Director of U.S. Strategic Initiatives. "Foxconn Place Chippewa Valley will play a key role in building a vibrant AI 8K+5G ecosystem in the U.S., with Wisconsin at the center of this vision ." To learn more about Foxconn Place Chippewa Valley, click here .

CROSS: FOXCONN, UW SYSTEM CAN BUILD A BETTER FUTURE FOR WISCONSIN

Recently, Ray Cross, president of the University of Wisconsin System, shared his perspective on how Wisconsin universities can partner with Foxconn Technology Group to improve the state. "At the University of Wisconsin System, our job is to help prepare Wisconsin for the future, whether by developing talent, disseminating cutting-edge research, or producing thoughtful citizens to be our next leaders ," said Cross. "But the university can't do this job alone. We need partners with an eye towards the future, and our partners need us . This is what excites me about Foxconn." Cross continued, " We welcome Foxconn as our newest partne r, and we welcome the opportunity and the challenge to focus our research efforts around this emerging technology and its potential use throughout the economy. I believe Wisconsin can be the international hub for digital imaging and AI. Together, we can build a brighter future for Wisconsin ." Read more from Ray Cross in the Appleton Post Crescent .

FOXCONN TO PARTNER WITH ADVOCATE AURORA, DEVELOP NEW HEALTH CARE TECH

Advocate Aurora Health and Foxconn Health Technology Business Group announced last week a multi-faceted collaboration focused on technology innovations and integration. The effort will connect Foxconn's digital health solutions with Advocate Aurora Health's growing portfolio of virtual health offerings to enhance access points for health and wellness via web and mobile. The organizations will hone in on three key focus areas: enhancing preventive care and employer-based wellness programs; building a "smart city" connectivity infrastructure; and investing in precision medicine and transformational training programs for a clinical team of the future. "Our employees' health is our top priority," said Leonard Wu, CEO of Foxconn Health Technology Business Group. "We are thrilled to partner with Advocate Aurora Health not only to bring together two organizations committed to health technology innovations but to provide first class health care and medical services to our Foxconn US employees ." "Foxconn supports our relentless pursuit of safety and quality, and we look forward to exploring breakthrough connections to extend these offerings to consumers across environments ," said Jim Skogsbergh, President and CEO, Advocate Aurora Health. "Our newly announced plans of expansion in Racine County, the same community where Foxconn recently broke ground, provides the perfect location to pilot these value-added opportunities for consumers." More information about this partnership is available here .

NEW EFFORT UNDERWAY IN RACINE COUNTY TO STIMULATE FOXCONN HOUSING CREATION

The Racine Journal Times recently reported on an initiative underway to "prime the pump" for the construction of a wide array of housing types in Racine County in the next few years. The initiative is aimed at creating options for new residents who move to the area as developments like Foxconn Technology Group bring in thousands of new jobs . The initiative is being led by Jerry Franke of Franke Development Advisors, on behalf of Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave and RCEDC Executive Director Jenny Trick. He estimates that nearly 10,500 housing units will be needed to house all 13,000 future Foxconn employees. Franke indicated that the County Executive charged him with this work because he "really wants to capture as much of the residential growth that will be generated by Foxconn and related jobs for Racine County because people tend to spend most of their disposable income where they live ." Franke presented his findings and recommendations to the Racine County Board on July 10 and at the Village of Mount Pleasant's Monthly Foxconn Briefing on July 16, and will cap off his work at a housing summit on September 12. To read the full story in the Racine Journal Times, click here .

RENO, NEVADA LEADERS SHARE INSIGHTS ON PREPARING FOR ECONOMIC BOOM IN RACINE

As Racine County and the region prepares for its own economic boom, the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread and Racine County this week hosted leaders from Reno, Nevada for a knowledge-sharing discussion based on their experiences following the economic boom led by Tesla, Google, Apple and Amazon's investments in Reno. "We really have the vision of seeing what could be; we've watched our own community change and transition, and you have that same potential ," said Mike Kazmierski, President & CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN). Due to this economic boom, Nevada now ranks as the #3 state in terms of GDP growth, with the Reno-Sparks region adding between 7,000 and 10,000 new jobs annually. Amid this unprecedented growth, the region is proactively working to address opportunities around talent attraction and development, transportation and housing. To watch a video of the full presentation and panel discussion, click here .

UPCOMING MEETINGS / EVENTS

On July 25 , WEDC and M+W | Gilbane will hold an information session for construction-related businesses in Green Bay at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (2740 West Mason Street) from 1:30-3:00 p.m. On July 26 , WEDC and M+W | Gilbane will hold an information session for construction-related businesses in Eau Claire at Chippewa Valley Technical College Energy Education Center (4000 Campus Road) from 1:30-3:00 p.m. On August 1 , WEDC and M+W | Gilbane will hold two information sessions for construction-related businesses in Racine at Gateway Technical College (2320 Renaissance Blvd) from 12:00-1:30 p.m. and from 3:00-4:30 p.m. On August 2 , WEDC and M+W | Gilbane will hold an information session for construction-related businesses in Madison at MGE Innovation Center (510 Charmany Drive) from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Upcoming meetings and events can be found in the event calendar on our website, FoxconnRacineCounty.com.