Foxconn, Kwik Trip, Haribo Top List of Wisconsin’s 2017 Economic Development Projects

MADISON – Governor Scott Walker today announced that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) had a record year for economic development in 2017 with 59 companies from Wisconsin and around the world agreeing to locate to or expand in Wisconsin. These projects are expected to create or retain nearly 30,000 jobs and result in more than $11.6 billion in capital investment across the state.

“When it comes to economic development, 2017 has been a historic year for Wisconsin as global companies such as Foxconn, Haribo and Nestle decided to establish operations in our great state after looking at many other options around the country,” Governor Walker said. “At the same time, many of Wisconsin’s major employers – including Kwik Trip, Generac, Mills Fleet Farm and Johnsonville – announced major expansion plans this year because of our dedicated workforce and the strong pro-business climate we’ve created.”

Not surprisingly, topping the list of projects is Foxconn’s Technology Group’s historic investment in Racine County – a project expected to create up to 13,000 good-paying, family-supporting jobs and generate up to $10 billion in capital investment. WEDC has agreed to provide Foxconn with up to $2.85 billion in tax credits for what is the largest economic development project in Wisconsin history and one of the largest ever in the United States.

The second-largest project of 2017 is Kwik Trip Inc.’s $309 million expansion project in La Crosse that will enable the growing company to meet its current and future capacity needs. The project is expected to create more than 300 new jobs.

Rounding out the top three projects of the year is Haribo’s planned $220 million manufacturing facility in Kenosha County, a project expected to create 385 jobs. WEDC has awarded Haribo up to $21 million in tax credits for the project, which will be the German candy-maker’s first manufacturing facility in North America.

“Each of these companies plays a significant role in continuing to grow the state’s economy by creating family-supporting jobs and investing in Wisconsin,” said Mark R. Hogan, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s lead economic development organization. “2017 was a successful year for WEDC as we assisted more than 300 businesses and communities as part of our mission to advance and maximize opportunities to help them thrive in a globally competitive environment.”

The list is based on all corporate expansion and attraction projects in which contracts between WEDC and the company were executed in 2017. The job projections, estimated project costs and the award amounts from WEDC are based on the requirements set forth in each contract. All WEDC tax credits are performance-based and the amount of credits a company receives is contingent upon the actual numbers of jobs created.

2017 Wisconsin economic development projects

Rank	Company	Location	County	Est. total project cost	Type of project	Estimated job impact	WEDC investment
1	Foxconn Technology Group	Mount Pleasant	Racine	$10.02 billion	New advanced manufacturing campus	Create 13,000 jobs	$2.85 billion in tax credits
2	Kwik Trip Inc.	La Crosse	La Crosse	$309 million	Expansion	Create 329 jobs	$21 million in tax credits
3	Haribo of America	Pleasant Prairie	Kenosha	$220 million	New manufacturing facility	Create 385 jobs	$21 million in tax credits
4	Epicentre Technologies Corp.	Madison	Dane	$148.4 million	Expansion	Create 20 jobs; retain 114 jobs	$750,000 in tax credits
5	Saputo Cheese USA	Almena	Barron	$89.5 million	Expansion	Create 92 jobs; retain 105 jobs	$3 million in tax credits
6	Generac Power Systems Inc.	Statewide		$86.8 million	Expansion	Create 400 jobs; retain 1,999 jobs	$10 million in tax credits
7	Brakebush Brothers, Inc.	Westfield	Marquette	$86 million	Expansion	Create 219 jobs; retain 885 jobs	$6.5 million in tax credits
8	Great Lakes Cheese Co.	Wausau	Marathon	$84.8 million	Expansion	Create 125 jobs	$2 million in tax credits
9	Mills Fleet Farm Group	Chippewa Falls	Chippewa	$71.7 million	Expansion	Create 284 jobs	$1.5 million loan
10	MilliporeSigma (Merck KGaA	Sheboygan Falls	Sheboygan	$64.1 million	Expansion	Create 175 jobs; retain 1,177 jobs	$1.25 million in tax credits
11	Masters Gallery Foods Inc	Oostburg	Sheboygan	$61.1 million	Expansion	Create 150 jobs; retain 529	$2.55 million in tax credits
12	U.S. Venture Inc.	Appleton	Outagamie	$58.5 million	Expansion	Create 214 jobs; retain 489	$20 million in tax credits
13	Gehl Foods LLC	Germantown	Washington	$46.6 million	Expansion	Create 50 jobs; retain 387	$535,000 in tax credits
14	Schwabe North America Inc.	Green Bay	Brown	$44.9 million	Expansion	Create 35 jobs	$700,000 in tax credits
15	Gold Standard Baking Co.	Pleasant Prairie	Kenosha	$42.7 million	New manufacturing facility	Create 96 jobs	$575,000 in tax credits
16	Electronic Theatre Controls Inc.	Middleton	Dane	$30 million	Expansion	Retain 787 jobs	$1.2 million in tax credits
17	Dynamic Recycling Inc.	Onalaska	La Crosse	$20.6 million	Expansion	Create 153 jobs; retain 122	$535,000 in tax credits
18	PreventionGenetics LLC	Marshfield	Wood	$20 million	Expansion	Create 150 jobs; retain 146	$850,000 in tax credits
19	Cintas Corp.	Greenville	Outagamie	$18.1 million	Expansion	Create 60 jobs; retain 372	$575,000 in tax credits
20	iMark Molding Inc.	Woodville	St. Croix	$18 million	Expansion	Create 40 jobs; retain 57	$350,000 in tax credits
21	Johnsonville Sausage LLC	Sheboygan Falls	Sheboygan	$16 million	Expansion	Create 98 jobs; retain 937	$10 million in tax credits
22	Amcor Flexibles LLC	Madison	Dane	$15 million	Expansion	Create 12 jobs	$150,000 in tax credits
23	Nestle Dreyer’s Ice Cream Co.	Appleton	Outagamie	$14.5 million	Expansion	Create 100 jobs	$830,000 in tax credits
24	Amerequip	Kiel	Calumet	$13.8 million	Expansion	Create 75 jobs; retain 242	$535,000 in tax credits
25	Mill Haven Foods LLC.	New Lisbon	Juneau	$10.1 million	Expansion	Create 35 jobs; retain 44	$400,000 in tax credits
26	DuraTech Industries, Inc.	La Crosse	La Crosse	$9.5 million	Expansion	Create 52 jobs; retain 229	$215,000 in tax credits
27	HIEP, LLC	Waterloo	Dodge	$7.9 million	New manufacturing facility	Create 51 jobs	$250,000 in tax credits
28	Heartland Cooperative	Owen	Clark	$7.8 million	New headquarters; manufacturing facility	Create 16 jobs; retain 115	$280,000 in tax credits
29	Baptista’s Bakery, LLC	Franklin	Milwaukee	$7.8 million	Expansion	Create 125 jobs; retain 389	$300,000 in tax credits
30	TRU Enterprises LLC	Beloit	Rock	$7.2 million	New manufacturing facility	Create 41 jobs	$275,000 in tax credits
31	Grand Appliance, Inc.	Sturtevant	Racine	$7.2 million	Expansion	Create 37 jobs	$500,000 in tax credits
32	Heartland Technology Group, Inc.	Little Chute	Outagamie	$6.0 million	Expansion	Create 19 jobs; retain 314	$241,800 in tax credits
33	Steele Solutions, Inc.	Milwaukee	Milwaukee	$5.9 million	Expansion	Create 125 jobs; retain 105	$596,000 in tax credits
34	Grover Corporation	Glendale	Milwaukee	$5.5 million	Expansion	Create 109 jobs; retain 56	$750,000 in tax credits
35	Octopi Brewing, LLC	Waunakee	Dane	$5.3 million	Expansion	Create 13 jobs; retain 10	$300,000 loan
36	LDV, Inc.	Burlington	Racine	$5.0 million	Expansion	Create 40 jobs; retain 207	$100,000 in tax credits
37	Metal-Era, Inc.	Waukesha	Waukesha	$4.9 million	Expansion	Create 32 jobs	$200,000 in tax credits
38	Prestige Metal Products, Inc.	Bristol	Kenosha	$4.2 million	Expansion	Create 46 jobs	$165,000 in tax credits
39	Krones Inc.	Franklin	Milwaukee	$4.0 million	Expansion	Create 25 jobs	$300,000 in tax credits
40	Artisans, Inc.	Glen Flora	Rusk	$3.7 million	Retention	Create 11 jobs; retain 76	$800,000 loan
41	Wisconsin Oven Corporation	East Troy	Walworth	$3.2 million	Expansion	Create 85 jobs; retain 123	$500,000 in tax credits
42	Fischer USA, Inc.	Racine	Racine	$3.1 million	Expansion	Create 20 jobs; retain 20	$80,000 in tax credits
43	Sussex Tool & Supply, Inc.	Sussex	Waukesha	$2.9 million	Expansion	Create 22 jobs; retain 38	$100,000 in tax credits
44	Commodore Corporation	Dorchester	Clark	$2.6 million	Expansion	Create 57 jobs; retain 43	$200,000 in tax credits
45	DOWCO INC	Manitowoc	Manitowoc	$2.5 million	Expansion	Create 37 jobs; retain 63	$190,000 in tax credits
46	Kage Innovation Corporation	Osceola	Polk	$2.4 million	New headquarters; manufacturing facility	Create 30 jobs	$200,000 in tax credits
47	LaForce, Inc.	Green Bay	Brown	$2.3 million	Expansion	Create 71 jobs; retain 371	$337,000 in tax credits
48	First Choice Ingredients – Menomonee Falls	Menomonee Falls	Waukesha	$1.9 million	Expansion	Create 22 jobs; retain 76	$50,000 in tax credits
49	Jacquart Fabric Products	Mosinee	Marathon	$1.9 million	Expansion	Create 85 jobs; retain 1	$167,500 in tax credits
50	U-Line Corporation	Brown Deer	Milwaukee	$1.8 million	Retention	Create 34 jobs; retain 109	$340,000 in tax credits
51	Diversified Manufacturing Corp.	Prescott	Pierce	$1.8 million	Expansion	Create 150 jobs	$520,000 in tax credits
52	Fisher Barton Blades Inc	Watertown	Jefferson	$1.6 million	Expansion	Create 52 jobs; retain 78	$180,000 in tax credits
53	Forefront Management Holdings LLC	Manitowoc	Manitowoc	$1.1 million	Expansion	Create 241 jobs; retain 149	$850,000 in tax credits
54	The Douglas Stewart Company, Inc.	Madison	Dane	$0.9 million	Expansion	Create 38 jobs; retain 97	$195,000 in tax credits
55	S3 International LLC	Milwaukee	Milwaukee	$0.35 million	Expansion	Create 13 jobs; retain 41	$350,000 loan
56	Pro-Active Engineering, Inc.	Sun Prairie	Dane	$0.87 million	Expansion	Create 20 jobs; retain 45	$80,000 in tax credits
57	Molson Coors Brewing Company	Milwaukee	Milwaukee	$0.6 million	New global services center	Create 150 jobs	$1.7 million in tax credits
58	Errand Solutions, LLC	Land O Lakes	Vilas	$1.4 million	New customer service center	Create 62 jobs	$500,000 in tax credits
59	Nine Realms, Inc.	Madison	Dane	$0.06 million	Expansion	Create 17 jobs; retain 32	$115,000 in tax credits

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.