In July, Foxconn Technology Group pledged to invest $10 billion to build an assembly plant in southeastern Wisconsin to make liquid crystal displays for computer screens, televisions and dashboards. The project will essentially create a village, with housing, stores and service businesses spread over 1,000 acres. At 20 million square feet, the factory itself will be three times the size of the Pentagon, making it one of the largest manufacturing complexes in the nation.
The factory, which could be open as soon as 2020, promises a jobs bonanza for the Badger State. The plant will initially employ 3,000 workers making an average of $53,900 a year, plus benefits. Ultimately, it could employ up to 13,000 workers and create an additional 22,000 jobs through suppliers and businesses serving Foxconn and its workers. The construction alone could lead to 10,000 jobs over each of the next four years.