Foxconn: What We've Learned

Here are some of the highlights of what we've learned over the past few days about the Foxconn project, in no particular order of importance:

1. Foxconn is no illusion. They're here.

2.  A county-wide sales tax to help fund the project does not appear to be in the cards.

3. The proposed Foxconn project is as close to Kenosha County as you can get without actually being in the county. It's right across the highway. (KR) 

4. Despite hours of closed-door meetings on Foxconn amidst a measure of political discord, Mt. Pleasant Village Board members appear to be solidly behind Foxconn. 

5. The question of whether enough landowners are willing to sell to Foxconn is no longer a nail-biter., if it ever was. The company already has under its control all of the land it needs to cover the plant's 'footprint.' The per-acre purchase price is around $50,000

6.  For anyone with an interest in pursuing a career in the next generation of automated manufacturing with an eye toward Foxconn employment, it's clearly not too early to start researching the possibilities. Click here for some shameful self-promotion. 

7. A lot more work needs to be done. The City of Racine and its water utility appear to be in the dark over details of Foxconn's utility needs. At a Redevelopment Authority meeting this week, City Administrator Jim Palenick called the lack of communication and coordination "amazing." 

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