Construction equipment has arrived at the Racine County farm field that will become the site of the new Foxconn factory that will make LCD display panels.
Local officials say they don’t mind that most of the construction companies are based elsewhere.
Foxconn and its lead contractor Gilbane Building have announced that 10 percent of the construction firms are from Racine County and another 80 percent are from elsewhere in Wisconsin.
Stay informed on the latest news
Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.
Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave said 10 percent is above average for big projects.
“When we have contracts and economic development projects like this, usually the average has been about 3.5 percent. So, to get 10 percent shows Gilbane has a lot of faith in Racine County and we have a lot of faith in Gilbane to do this,” Delagrave told news reporters following a photo opportunity set up at the Foxconn site.
Gilbane said 80 percent of the construction workers will be from Wisconsin. Foxconn officials said initial subcontracts for site preparation have been awarded to firms in Black River Falls and Milwaukee. At peak, during this phase of construction, about 400 workers will be on site, Gilbane said.
Officials said a formal groundbreaking, expected to include state, and possible federal officials, will be held later.
The factory site in Mount Pleasant is in the congressional district of U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Janesville.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
