Local elected officials react to Foxconn announcement
A huge $10 billion Foxconn facility is coming to Wisconsin. The announcement was made by President Trump, Foxconn officials and other elected officials on Wednesday. Here is reaction from other local leaders:
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett:
“I’m certainly excited about the jobs coming to Southeastern Wisconsin and I’m eager to get the ball rolling on connecting Milwaukeeans to those jobs. I also believe it’s important for policy makers to ensure that the financing package is fair to taxpayers.”
Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow:
“Today’s announcement by Foxconn is historic. It is one of the largest economic development projects in US history, and it will change the financial landscape of Southeast Wisconsin. A deal this size extends beyond municipal boundaries in both execution and regional impact. It also demonstrates the vital role that collaboration and partnerships play in creating lasting economic development.
“First, I want to thank Governor Scott Walker for his leadership and his commitment to economic development. Both were vital to landing this once in a lifetime opportunity. The Governor engaged regional partnerships, including the legislature; the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC); the Milwaukee 7 (M7) and its partners; and county and municipal leaders to work together with a common goal. Public and private partners rolled up their sleeves and worked together to bring Foxconn here. This is what a true partnership looks like, and it is the key to growth statewide.
“Now that Foxconn is on its way, these partnerships will become even more vital. Our work is just beginning. This deal will require a diverse workforce to fill thousands of new skilled positions. Local, regional and state leaders must work together to scale up an education and training infrastructure to support the growing economy and business climate.
“We are already seeing success in our efforts to grow our high-tech workforce. For example, Madison is ranked number one in the nation for tech job momentum. That’s in addition to Milwaukee’s pool of tech talent. Through regional partnerships we can tap into existing local economic development infrastructure and relationships to bolster our existing workforce development infrastructure and to continue to attract top talent to the state.
I’ve said before that the M7 has a chance to shake things up when it comes to thinking about how to attract national and international businesses to our area. That shake up is happening now through collaboration to build a world-class, thriving economy.”
Speaker Paul Ryan:
"I often say that Wisconsin’s workers are the best in the world and that the Badger State is a great place to do business. I’m thrilled that Foxconn agrees and has decided to build their new factory in southeastern Wisconsin. This decision will create thousands of good jobs, and I’m excited for all the Wisconsinites who will benefit. I’m grateful that I was able to be a part of this process, working the state leaders like Governor Walker, to make it a reality. This is an exciting day for our community, and we look forward to working further with Foxconn as we begin a new era of manufacturing here in Wisconsin.”
Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave:
“We are thrilled that a company of this magnitude has recognized the business opportunities available in Wisconsin. We will be proud to have them as part of our great state. While we would welcome this type of investment in Racine County, it is our policy not to comment on speculation around potential development opportunities. We are also committed to transparency. If and when we have further information that we are able to share, we will engage in a full dialogue with the community."