Wisconsin Resources Page

What the Latest Tech Hubs Funding Means for Site Selection Executives

Area Development Research Desk

Manufacturing executives must consider the diverse locations, supply chain resilience, workforce development, and governance structures of the Tech Hubs. Aligning new facility plans with these hubs can enhance competitiveness, reduce operational risks, and contribute to long-term growth.

EV and Semiconductor Projects Stand Out in States Receiving Area Development’s 18th Annual Shovel Awards

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development

With concerns about climate change now supplanting pandemic fears, projects to produce EVs — and the semiconductors used by vehicles and other high-tech goods — come to the forefront in this year’s Shovel Awards report.

2018 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards: Arizona, Indiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee Awarded Silver Shovels - States with 5 to 8 Million Population

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine
Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development

Table Stakes: Business Attraction in the Midwest Post-Foxconn

Wade Goodsell, Consulting & Incentives Program Director, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

In order for other Midwest states to be ready when opportunity comes knocking, they need to understand the lessons to be learned from the Foxconn deal.

2017 Top States for Doing Business: Georgia Ranks #1 Fourth Year in a Row

Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development

The top-ranked states have committed to adding value as economic development leaders and problem-solvers, characteristics that are recognized by consultants to industry.

Tech Firms Find New Opportunity in Emerging Hotspots

Steffen Kammerer, Senior Vice President, Technology Practice Group, JLL

“Hidden gems” like Sacramento and Albany are winning more industry interest thanks to affordable, talent-rich ecosystems.

Foxconn: Breaking Down a $3 Billion Incentives Package

Wade Goodsell, Consulting & Incentives Program Director, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

As the “Wisconn Valley” special legislative session examines the structure, performance based metrics and magnitude of an incentives package tied to what would be the largest greenfield investment by a foreign company in U.S. history, it is paramount to understand the road to a $3 billion incentives package.

It’s Your Move: Critical Considerations When Relocating Corporate Headquarters

Dean J. Uminski, CEcD, Partner, Crowe Horwath

The improving economy is making it more financially feasible for companies to relocate their corporate headquarters, but such a move calls for careful consideration of a variety of factors that will determine the ultimate success — or failure — of relocation.

Regional Report: Midwest Economy Buffeted by the Winds of Change

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development

There have been ups and downs in the world of Midwest auto manufacturing, but the region has also shown growth in the technology, agribusiness, and logistics/distribution sectors.

2016 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Recognize States That Have Garnered High-Impact Economic Development Projects

Geraldine Gambale, Editor, Area Development Magazine
Mark Crawford, Staff Editor, Area Development

The states receiving this year’s Shovel Awards are being recognized for their large numbers of high-impact economic development projects, including $1 billion+ deals with thousands of new jobs. Six states — California, Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, Nevada and Utah — are being awarded Gold Shovels in recognition of projects undertaken in 2015.

Wisconsin Basic Business Taxes

Area Development Research Desk

Manufacturing and agriculture tax credit, Property tax exemption for manufacturing machinery and equipment, Wisconsin dairy and livestock farm investment credit, Manufacturing machinery and equipment exemption, Invest in Wisconsin Business, WEDC (Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation), DATCP (Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection), DWD (Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development), Wisconsin Department of Tourism, Wisconsin Technical College System, University of Wisconsin System

Wisconsin Direct Financial Incentives

Area Development Research Desk

Wisconsin's economic development, finance and tax organizations provide a range of incentive programs to initiate new business and commercial investment.

Regional Report: Industrial Diversification Helps Midwest Meet Today’s Economic Challenges

Dale D. Buss, Staff Editor, Area Development

The largely Midwest-based automotive is humming along to record sales and hauling hundreds of companies in the region along with it while technology companies have begun to warm up to the talent and work ethic that resides in America’s heartland.

Critical Site Selection Factor #7: Right-To-Work State Often the First Factor in the Location Decision

Steve Kaelble, Staff Editor, Area Development

Manufacturers often will not consider a state that’s non–right-to-work, but today that rules out about half the country.

2015 Gold & Silver Shovel Awards Recognizing Excellence in State Job Creation and Economic Development Efforts

Area Development Special Presentation

Area Development’s annual awards recognize individual states for their overall economic development effectiveness. This year, we honor 21 states for their achievements in 2014 in garnering investment and job creation with Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina and Nevada awarded the Gold Shovel.

Project Announcements

Thermo Fisher Scientific Expands Middleton, Wisconsin, GMP-Bioanalytical Complex

06/19/2024

Microsoft Establishes Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, Data Center Operations

05/16/2024

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company Expands Jefferson, Wisconsin, Operations

04/30/2024

Kikkoman Foods Plans Jefferson, Wisconsin, Operations

04/26/2024

A.Y. McDonald Plans Grant County, Wisconsin, Operations

01/30/2024

All News Items 

Tips: Send Us Business Expansion or Relocation News

WISCONSIN at a glance

POPULATION: 5,910,955

LABOR FORCE: 3,148,600

RIGHT TO WORK: Yes

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES: Heavy machinery, food & beverage, forest products, insurance carriers

EXPANDING INDUSTRIES: Bio health, food & beverage, forest products, advanced manufacturing, water technology, software publishing

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 33.2%

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Single-factor tax treatment
Corporate Income Tax: 7.9 percent of net income

Sales and Use Tax: 5 percent of gross receipts from sales, leasing,or renting tangible personalproperty and certain services,with exemptions

Property Tax:Rates vary by taxing jurisdiction (towns, villages, cities, counties, school districts, and special districts); nonmanufacturing assessments are done at the local level at some percentage of market value; taxes are levied within taxing jurisdictions using the local assessment; property tax exemptions are offered for manufacturing machinery, equipment, inventories, machinery used exclusively for R&D, computers, and computer equipment; a sales tax exemption for equipment and energy used in the manufacturing process

BUSINESS INCENTIVES:

Brownfields Initiative
Brownsfield Grant Program
Brownsfield Site Assessment Grant
Business Development Tax Credit
Community Development Investment Grant
Enterprise Zone Tax Credit
Main Street Bounceback Grant
Capital Catalyst
Entrepreneurial Micro-Grant
Entrepreneurship Partner Grant
Qualified New Business Venture Certification
Technology Development Loan
Wisconsin Investment Pilot
Economic Development Tax Credit Programs
Industrial revenue bonds
Downtown development
Direct loans
Training grants
Technology Development Loan
Angel and Early-Stage Seed Investment Tax Credit program
Global Business Development grants

Principal Manufacturing industries

Fabricated Metal Products

15.6%
Machinery (Except Electrical)

14.2%
Food Products

13.7%
Paper and Allied Products

7.0%
Printing, Publishing, & Allied Industries

6.6%
Plastics & Rubber

6.4%
Transportation Equipment

5.7%
Electrical Machinery

4.9%
Computer & Electrical Products

4.6%
Other Manufacturing Industries

21.3%

Source: QCEW Employees EMSI 2014.3 Class of Worker