Contact: Tom Evenson
(608) 266-2839
Green Bay, Wisconsin – Governor Scott Walker joined local chamber of commerce, technical college, University of Wisconsin (UW) System, and county leaders today at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College for a roundtable discussion focused on the transformational impact Foxconn will have on workforce development in Wisconsin.
“Foxconn is the world’s fourth largest tech company by revenue and they chose Wisconsin over every other state in the country because we have the strong education system necessary to prepare the next generation of workers with the practical skills necessary to meet Foxconn’s workforce needs,” Governor Walker said. “In fact, between the 2013-2015 and 2015-17 budgets, we’ve invested a total of more than $382 million into state programs that support workforce development. Foxconn is a transformational opportunity and the company’s presence in Wisconsin will have a positive ripple effect throughout the state. We are ready for Wisconn Valley and remain vigilant for opportunities like today’s roundtable to prepare and educate the people of our state about this historic investment.”
To help prepare Wisconsin’s workforce for the 13,000 good-paying jobs Foxconn plans to bring to the state, the Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy adopted an amendment to the Foxconn bill adding $20 million in the next biennium to the Department of Workforce Development (DWD).
“The Wisconsin Technical College System has the experience and partnerships necessary to respond quickly and efficiently to meet the state’s workforce needs,” said Wisconsin Technical College System President Morna Foy. “We look forward to working with the Governor, Legislature, and our education, economic development, and employer partners to ensure a strong talent pipeline for Wisconsin.”
“Companies like Foxconn will locate in states where they know they can recruit talent,” said UW System President Ray Cross. “The UW System plays a critical role in developing a workforce with strong problem-solving skills that can produce creative, innovative solutions now and in the future.”
In addition to the 13,000 jobs created directly by Foxconn, the project is also expected to create 22,000 indirect and induced jobs throughout Wisconsin. Every year, Foxconn plans to make $4.26 billion in supplier purchases, one-third of which will be sourced in the state. Overall, the project is expected to have a $7 billion economic impact on Wisconsin every year, requiring an estimated $10 billion capital investment for construction and equipment sourced from Wisconsin businesses. Over each of the next four years, the Foxconn project will support 10,000 construction jobs as well as 6,000 indirect jobs from the construction.
