Foxconn scaling back manufacturing plans in Wisconsin: report

[corbe]

Foxconn scaling back manufacturing plans in Wisconsin: report

By Michael Burke - 01/30/19 10:18 AM EST 

Electronics manufacturer Foxconn is scaling back its plans to produce LCD panels in Wisconsin, a company executive told Reuters.

“In Wisconsin we’re not building a factory. You can’t use a factory to view our Wisconsin investment,” said Louis Woo, special assistant to Foxconn CEO Terry Gou.

The planned manufacturing plant had been touted by President Trump, who made an announcement about the project at the White House in 2017 and delivered remarks at a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant last year.

<..snip..>

https://thehill.com/policy/technology/427626-foxconn-walking-back-plans-to-build-manufacturing-plant-in-wisconsin

[thackney]

https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/01/30/foxconns-10-billion-facility-in-wisconsin-for-knowledge-and-not-large-scale-manufacturing

...As part of the deal to open the 20 million-square-foot facility in Wisconsin, a package of $764 million in incentives has been provided by Mount Pleasant and Racine County, the town and county where it will be built. On top of this, the state of Wisconsin pledged another $134 million for the improvement of state highways and local roads near the site.

The benefits are in addition to existing financial incentives, which primarily consists of $2.85 billion in income tax credits for job creation and capital expenditures. There is also a sales tax exemption worth $150 million as part of the $3 billion bundle.

The state will be responsible for covering 40 percent of the public bonds used to finance all of the local expenses, in the event the project fails completely....

[thackney]

Trump call convinces Foxconn to build flat screens in Wisconsin
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/01/tech/foxconn-wisconsin-plant-trump/index.html

Foxconn says it is returning to its original plan to make flat screen panels at a new plant in Wisconsin following an appeal from President Donald Trump.

The Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer caused a storm this week when it said it was considering dropping plans to build the panels at the facility, even though it said it was still anticipating hiring 13,000 workers. The company has been promised $4 billion in state and local incentives to develop the Wisconsin facility.

In a statement Friday, Foxconn said that after a call between Trump and its chairman, Terry Gao, the company has decided to stick with its manufacturing plans after all....

[jmyrlefuller]

Interesting that they (initially) changed plans after Scott Walker left. Yet somehow the left still blamed Walker, as if elections don't have consequences.

[Wingnut]

This thing ain't all that it appears.  Not sure what will happen.... but there is enough backpedaling to make a rat congress critter proud.