May 8, 2024 7:55a
(WGTD)---In advance of President Biden's trip to Racine today, the Biden administration is contrasting Microsoft's planned expansion of its footprint in Wisconsin to the failed Foxconn project that had been lauded by former President Trump.
Biden is expected to take part in an announcement by Microsoft that it will create an AI Co-Innovation Lab on the campus of UW-Milwaukee. The word comes even before Microsoft has completed construction of a data center on land in Mt. Pleasant that was originally earmarked for Foxconn.
Today's announcement will take place at the SC Johnson iMET Center in Sturtevant--the same location where seven years ago a Foxconn executive and local officials unveiled plans to create a high-tech campus that could eventually employ up to 13,000 workers.
Even though dozens of homes were bulldozed for the project, just a shell of what was originally envisioned was actually built. At last report, Foxconn employs 1,500 people under an incentives contract with the state that was renegotiated.
In a news release, the Biden administration says the Microsoft presence will eventually lead to 2,000 permanent jobs.
The "Co-Innovation Lab" in Milwaukee is expected to provide at least 60 manufacturers a year with guidance on how to use artificial intelligence to grow their businesses, according to a news release from the state.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is expected to allocate $500,000 for the project.
While local officials have publicly acknowledged Foxconn's shortcomings, they note that the ready-to-use infrastructure that was installed for the Taiwanese manufacturer was one of the main things that drew Microsoft to Mt. Pleasant.
Microsoft's planned $3.3 billion investment includes a partnership with Gateway Technical College and the establishment of a data center academy to train potential Microsoft employees and others.
In 2019, Trump participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for Foxconn in which he infamously described the planned campus as the "8th wonder of the world."
Today's announcement at iMET is an invitation-only event that's expected to begin around noon today.
Before leaving for a campaign appearance in Chicago, Biden is expected to meet with supporters at an undisclosed location in the Racine area.
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