FOXCONN — A CONVERSATION ABOUT NEXT STEPS
Foxconn’s massive new factory in Racine County has the potential to change the trajectory of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy. The impact of this state-ofthe-art, high-tech facility — serving an industry brand new to the U.S. — will ripple across the entire state.
But its sheer size also poses big challenges for Wisconsin’s workforce, municipal budgets in the region and even the environment.
What has to happen right now? What already is happening? And what will it take to get ready for this opportunity?
What lessons can we learn from other large-scale developments in other regions?
These are among the questions we’ll be asking at the next of our “Across the Divide” community conversations.
Join moderators Mitch Teich of WUWM (89.7 FM) and the Journal Sentinel’s Erin Richards at 7 p.m. Nov. 15 at Prairie School in Racine for an in-depth discussion with community leaders and other experts as we ask the question:
What will Foxconn mean for southeastern Wisconsin? (Go to www.jsonline.com/opinion for ticket information).
This discussion is the fourth in a series that the Journal Sentinel and its partner, Milwaukee Public Radio, have produced this year. Others have focused on school choice, immigration and political civility.
Whether you think $3 billion in public incentives to lure the Taiwanese industrial giant was a good deal or bad deal for taxpayers, that decision has been made. So how do we figure out how to make this arrangement work for all citizens of the region, and indeed, the entire state? The potential for economic growth is huge. As I’ve written, I hope this turns out just as politicians such as Gov. Scott Walker have said it will. If that happens, it will indeed be transformational, and we all will be the better for it.
Here’s our lineup so far for the Prairie School discussion:
• Richard Longworth, a distinguished fellow on global cities at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Longworth, a former reporter for the Chicago Tribune, is the author of “Caught in the Middle: America’s Heartland in the Age of Globalism” (Bloomsbury USA 2009). The book offers an in-depth examination of the effects of globalization on the Midwest based on thousands of miles of driving the heartland and dozens of interviews.
• Deborah Davidson, vice president, workforce and economic development, Gateway Technical College, Kenosha. Deborah has been closely involved in discussions about worker training as the region prepares for a factory that could one day employ up to 13,000 people.
• John Dickert, president and CEO of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. John was a three-term mayor of Racine until resigning earlier this year to take the position with the Cities Initiative. Before becoming mayor, he worked for First Weber Group focusing on commercial and residential redevelopment.
Please join us to discuss this important development. And in the meantime, let me know what questions you have and what specific issues you would like us to address.
Finally, as always, thank you for your concern for the health and well-being of our region.