Updated 7p to add comments from Gateway President Albrecht
Local officials have issued a statement in the wake of a Reuter's report that Foxconn is no longer interested in building a manufacturing facility in Mt. Pleasant and will instead focus on research and development.
"Contrary to what was reported by Reuters, Foxconn reiterated to us, today, its commitment to building an advanced manufacturing operation in Wisconsin, in addition to its commitment to create 13,000 jobs and invest $10 billion in Racine County," they said. The statement was issued by Mt. Pleasant Village President David DeGroot, Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave, and Jenny Trick, Executive Director of the Racine County Economic Development Corp.
The officials did concede that Foxconn is still evaluating just which type of product or products it plans to build.
Lest there be any doubt, the officials reminded residents that the village has an iron-clad guarantee that Foxconn remains on the hook to create in the village a minimum valuation of $1.4 billion which would more than pay for all public improvements and development costs for the project.
In a statement Wednesday to Wisconsin Public Radio, Foxconn did not dispute the Reuters report, but said the company remained committed to Wisconsin.
Gateway Technical College released its own statement. Spurred on by Foxconn, Gateway has added advanced manufacturing training programs and is also adding on to the SC Johnson iMET Center, although most of the addition is being paid for by the state.
In a emailed statement to employees and news media, Gateway President Bryan Albrecht said the school's expansion is not based on the needs of a single employer. "Our strategy has always been to develop programs that meet all of our employer's needs," he said.
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