Poll Finds Most Adults In Southeastern Wisconsin Think Foxconn Plant Will Be A Good Thing

A poll done by Marquette University Law School is being billed as the “first in-depth look at public sentiment” in the region for a Foxconn Technology manufacturing facility that will build flat screen displays.

Pollsters contacted 1,200 Wisconsin adults in five counties in southeastern Wisconsin: Milwaukee, Washington, Racine, Waukesha and Ozaukee. Fifty-four percent of those polled stated the plant will have a “substantial” positive economic impact in the Milwaukee area.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a $3 billion incentives package for the Taiwanese-based company to locate their facility in Racine County last month.

The survey showed 71 percent of Racine County residents think the facility will be good for the local economy, while 23 percent disagreed.

Poll Director Charles Franklin said support for the factory was strongest in Racine County where it is expected to be built. Construction could begin as early as spring 2018.

Franklin said 71 percent of Racine residents believe it will be an economic boon, and many think their own families stand to benefit.

“We see especially that folks in Racine, 49 percent, but basically half, think they will see a direct benefit,” Franklin said. “That number of direct benefit falls into the 20s and 30s (percentage) in other parts of the region.”

The combined results for Ozaukee and Washington counties showed 67 percent of respondents had a positive view of the factory. In Waukesha County 59 percent said they think it will have a positive economic impact.

Franklin said the poll broke down Milwaukee County into the city of Milwaukee and suburban areas. He said in the city people seemed more skeptical of the economic benefits, with only 40 percent of respondents expecting an economic boost. Suburban results were more positive with 55 percent of respondents expecting good things.

Still, Franklin added that believing the plant will be positive doesn’t necessarily mean people support the $3 billion in state incentives.

“You can simultaneously believe that the factory is going to help the region’s economy but be dubious about whether taxpayer money to the tune of $3 billion is ultimately going to be recouped in long term state revenue,” he said.

The survey has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5 percent.

Franklin said Marquette University Law School will follow up on the survey as the factory plans progress. He said those plans include asking people in other parts of the state if they believe the factory will be good for the economy and if Foxconn will justify the state incentives.