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Cudahy manufacturer growing, achieves game-changing certification
One walk across the manufacturing floor at Modular Power & Data (MPD) shows remnants of their metal fabricating history. From restaurant menu boards to lake piers, the company’s client base has been as diverse as the work they perform. But now MPD is turning…
Stable and Growing: A Promising Future for Businesses Choosing Wisconsin
As national economic conditions continue to diverge sharply across the country, geography has become a defining factor in performance. The Moody’s Analytics map highlighted by Fortune underscores that reality, placing Wisconsin outside the group of…
Efficiency on the shop floor
Racine manufacturer using AI to improve processes
A visit from the top: Microsoft leadership engages with local community
Local business, civic leaders meet with Microsoft head to talk data centers “It’s a fascinating time,” said Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith. “I do think that we’ve entered what is, in effect, an AI…
Driving Innovation: A comprehensive data center resource hub
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, research and daily life – powering everything from smart services to advanced analytics. Behind every AI application is a network of data centers, the infrastructure that enables high-speed computing and…
Elevating a community
Vantage breaks ground on $15B data center investment
GZ PrintPak to invest $7.1 million to expand Mount Pleasant facility
Premium paper packaging company GZ PrintPak will spend $7.1 million to expand production capacity at its recently opened Mount Pleasant manufacturing site to manufacture luxury paper bags, according to a Thursday announcement from the company and…
Rockwell Automation to Build New Greenfield Manufacturing Site in Southeastern Wisconsin
New site advances a $2 billion investment plan to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and digital capability
OpenAI, Oracle and Vantage Data Centers Announce Stargate Data Center Site in Wisconsin
DENVER (Oct. 22 , 2025) – OpenAI, Oracle and Vantage Data Centers, a leading global provider of hyperscale data center campuses, today announced plans to develop a data center campus outside Milwaukee in Port Washington, Wisconsin. The new campus is…
Gov. Evers, Microsoft Officials Announce New $4 Billion Investment in Mount Pleasant Datacenter
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2025 Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov RACINE — Gov. Tony Evers today joined Microsoft officials and local leaders to announce that Microsoft is investing an additional $4 billion to further expand its planned…
Concept Labs officially opens its new facility in Pleasant Prairie, hosts grand opening celebration
On September 18, 2025, Concept Labs hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of its new 196,000 SF facility in the Village of Pleasant Prairie. “Our new facility in Pleasant Prairie represents a key step in our long-term growth strategy…
Milwaukee Tool Expands Waukesha County, Wisconsin, Operations
Milwaukee Tool, a subsidiary of Techtronic Industries (TTI), plans to expand its operations in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The $42 million project is expected to create 300 jobs in Waukesha County. The investment includes the purchase of a 22-acre property at 100…
Microbial Discovery Group expands in Wisconsin with opening of third manufacturing facility
WEDC is partnering with innovative leader in fermentation FRANKLIN, WI. SEPT. 3, 2025 – State, local, and company leaders today celebrated the grand opening of the third Wisconsin production location for Microbial Discovery Group (MDG). The expansion…
Why the next great American business story might start in Milwaukee
On any given weekday morning, downtown Milwaukee hums with the low, steady pulse of commerce. Streetcars glide past glassy high-rises, cyclists slip into office towers, and the scent of espresso mingles with lake air. It is here, in this compact central business…
M7 putting new focus on biotech manufacturing sector
The Milwaukee 7 Regional Partnership wants to put a greater emphasis on biotech companies and other manufacturers as it develops its next five-year plan. Rebecca Gries, executive director for M7, shared an update on the group’s efforts during this…
Wall Street Journal, Linkedin: Milwaukee region booming with opportunities for young professionals
July 21, 2025 (MILWAUKEE) – Milwaukee is growing its reputation as a premier destination for young professionals, as recognized by two major media outlets in recent days. In a feature published by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Milwaukee…
The Cities Where College Grads Are Actually Landing Jobs
Memo to job-hunting college grads: It pays to take your search to cities just beyond America’s biggest metro areas. In one of the toughest markets for entry-level jobs in years, several second-tier cities—including Raleigh, N.C.—rise above the pack…
Q&A: Yaskawa America CEO explains company’s decision to expand in Franklin
Last month, Yaskawa America announced plans to invest $180 million to build a new headquarters campus in the Franklin Business Park. The company, a manufacturer of AC inverter drives and motion control and robotics automation…
Wisconsin: Capturing More Than a Moment
For three days in late April, virtually every camera in the sports world trained its lens squarely on one city: Green Bay, Wisconsin. Hosting the NFL Draft commands that level of attention. From April 24 to 26, more than 600,000 people showed up at the Green Bay…
20th Annual Area Development Gold and Silver Shovel Awards
It’s been 20 years since Area Development first handed out its inaugural Shovel Awards. In those two decades, we’ve seen seismic shifts in where and how America grows. From the rise of the electric vehicle industry to the return of semiconductor…
Wisconsin: A Launchpad for Innovation and Industry
Editor’s Note: This article was paid for and written by Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and approved by Area Development. Wisconsin is gaining national attention as a dynamic technology hub, attracting global corporations, high-growth startups, and…
Yaskawa America to invest $180 million to relocate headquarters to Franklin
Yaskawa America , a manufacturer of AC inverter drives and motion control and robotics automation systems, plans to spend $180 million to build out a new headquarters campus in Franklin. The new headquarters campus will create 700 new jobs once complete, according to…
Governor Evers and WEDC join Yaskawa America, Inc. Leadership to Announce Expansion and North American Headquarters Relocation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Dennis Fitzgerald, VP of Customer Satisfaction, dennis_fitzgerald@yaskawa.com, (847) 887-7014 JUNE 13, 2025 Governor Evers and WEDC join Yaskawa America, Inc. Leadership to Announce Expansion and…
Terex Corp. plans expansion in Pewaukee, will create 100 jobs
Norwalk, Connecticut-based Terex Corp. , a global industrial equipment manufacturer, will expand its operations in Pewaukee and eventually create more than 100 new jobs there. The expansion project, which will take place at the Terex facility located at N4…
What’s driving Wisconsin’s emergence as a data center hot spot?
Wisconsin has emerged as a hot spot for hyper-scale data centers, and the state’s top economic development official predicts more such projects. Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes said a major driver of the trend is…
Data centers open door for growth and construction in Wisconsin
Data centers are the new buzz for construction and development in Wisconsin as tech companies look to the Great Lakes for abundant, undeveloped land and a steady supply of fresh water. These high-tech facilities, which store and process large amounts of data, are…
There’s Never Been a Better Time to Visit Milwaukee
After long being considered Chicago’s little sibling, Milwaukee has finally come into its own as a travel worthy destination in its own right. In 2024, it made our Readers’ Choice Awards list of the best big cities in the US, ranking…
City of Kenosha to Receive Investment from Microsoft
KENOSHA, Wis. – The state of Wisconsin and city of Kenosha announce the sale of approximately 240 acres of land northwest of Interstate 94 and Highway 142 to Microsoft. The site enhances the state and region’s capacity to support innovation and growth…
Microsoft buys 240 acres of land in Kenosha for data center development
Microsoft continues to grow its footprint in southeast Wisconsin with the recent purchase of 240 acres of land in Kenosha which has been earmarked for another data center development. The state of Wisconsin, along with the city of Kenosha, announced the sale of…
Modine Manufacturing to open facility in Franklin, bringing 200 full-time jobs by 2029
Modine Manufacturing Company is opening a new facility in Franklin. Modine, a Racine-based company focused on thermal management technologies for the commercial, industrial and vehicular markets, is leasing a 153,000-square-foot facility at 3303 West Oakwood Road,…
Wisconsin companies are finding it easier to hire and plan to hire more, WMC survey finds
The number of Wisconsin employers having trouble hiring reached its lowest level in more than a decade, according to the latest Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce employer survey. WMC polled 153 employers made up of a representative sample of its…
The 2025 Regional Workforce Development Rankings
“The rankings on these pages are high-level measures of states’ workforce development climates. They do not reflect which states in a region have the most effective workforce training programs or labor boards or tools for connecting job seekers with potential…
Eli Lilly Facility Expansion
On December 16, 2024, the Village of Pleasant Prairie Plan Commission approved the Preliminary Site and Operational Plans for the proposed expansion of the Eli Lilly and Company facility located at 10300 128th Avenue in the Prairie Highlands Corporate Park. This…
Lilly announces $3 billion expansion of its recently acquired manufacturing facility in Wisconsin
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced a $3 billion expansion of the Kenosha County, Wisconsin, manufacturing facility that the company acquired earlier this year. This…
Why Eli Lilly chose Kenosha County for massive expansion
On an investment spree with billions of dollars worth of projects ongoing globally, Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly and Company chose Kenosha County for its latest — and one of its largest — investments. The pharmaceutical giant announced Thursday…
Racine County’s Unique Location Makes It a Premier Destination for the Energy, Power, and Controls Industry
Access to a skilled labor force, strong infrastructure, attractive incentives, and growth opportunities are some of the key factors in the decision-making process for choosing a new location. Wisconsin, especially Southeastern Wisconsin and Racine County, is not only…
The Best Cities in the United States: 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards
Sure, you’ll find some familiar names on this list of the best big cities in the US, but go beyond what you might expect and you’ll find some surprising gems that are always a good idea for a reason. 10. Miami With an abundance of dreamy beaches,…
Opinion: Manufacturing is Wisconsin’s fastball. Opportunities abound for economic growth.
As our Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the playoffs a baseball analogy seems appropriate. Fans know a successful pitcher needs a repertoire of weapons in his arsenal. A potent curveball or slider are nice for any pitcher to have in his back pocket. But that…
The Cities With the Fastest Car Commutes
For many Americans, the drive to and from work requires enduring slow-moving, soul-draining traffic. The commute remains one of the top gripes that workers have about returning to offices. But in certain cities, driving during rush hour is a breeze….
Milwaukee Airport looks to add international terminal
Business and civic leaders from around the area joined Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley recently to show support for the county’s recent federal grant application to build an international terminal at Milwaukee Mitchell International…
Washington Monthly ranks UW as No. 1 national public university
Boosted by strong scores in metrics measuring public service and an improved score in social mobility, the University of Wisconsin–Madison is ranked first among national public universities and 12th overall in Washington Monthly’s 2024 College Guide…
A Rust Belt renaissance? Wisconsin cities are leading it
Which Rust Belt cities boast thriving industrial and commercial real estate markets today? Wisconsin leads the way, with two of its cities — Madison and Kenosha — cited in a recent study of the fortunes of cities in the famed Rust Belt. These two Wisconsin…
Best Community Colleges in the U.S. – 2024 Study
Associate degrees offer students flexibility to achieve different educational and vocational goals. They usually take half the time of a bachelor’s degree and could help you meet the academic requirements for many entry positions into a career. Community…
20 Best Places in the World to Visit in November, According to Travel Experts
If you’re looking for a solid travel deal, November will be your ticket to fun. During the first two weeks of the month, prices plummet and crowds thin out. We searched flight prices and turned up lots of deals, including airfare from LA to New York for less than $250…
Changes to Wisconsin’s Business Development Tax Credit Program take effect
Big changes have arrived for one of WEDC’s most popular incentive programs that helps businesses locate or expand in Wisconsin. This year, the state updated the Business Development Tax Credit (BTC) Program to give businesses more flexibility to…
M7, MMAC and others promote SE Wis. to visiting ambassadors
Baseball may be the great American pastime, but the diamond at American Family Field had a true international feel Tuesday morning. M7, MMAC, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and gener8tor hosted dozens of ambassadors from around…
Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub Secures Phase 2 Award, Catalyzing Innovation and Economic Growth
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 2024 …
Best cities for college students and graduates 2024
When it comes to where they live, everyone wants something a little different. Some people look for accommodating housing and job markets, while others prioritize entertainment and culture. For college students, the city where they live and study can play a monumental…
Microsoft president says Mount Pleasant AI data center will be ‘among the world’s most advanced’
Just hours after plans were announced for Microsoft to spend $3.3 billion to build an artificial intelligence data center campus in Mount Pleasant, the company’s president talked about the impact the project will have on the state’s…
Microsoft announces $3.3 billion investment in Wisconsin to spur artificial intelligence innovation and economic growth
President Joe Biden to join Microsoft for announcement in Mount Pleasant Editor’s note – May 10, 2024 – This press release was updated to include the full name of National Grid Renewables. Mount Pleasant, WI – May 8, 2024 –…
Lilly Acquires New Injectable Medicine Manufacturing Facility from Nexus Pharmaceuticals
Upon completion, this acquisition will expand Lilly’s growing U.S. capacity to produce the latest life-changing medicines INDIANAPOLIS and LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., April 22, 2024 – Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) and Nexus Pharmaceuticals, LLC today…
Longtime leader Jim Paetsch announces retirement
In a planned succession, MMAC President Dale Kooyenga announced Rebecca Gries will take over as Milwaukee 7’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Attraction and Expansion. She will succeed longtime M7 Senior Vice President and Executive Director…
WestRock to Open Cutting-Edge Converting Facility in Southeastern Wisconsin Company to Make Investment in Pleasant Prairie, WI
CONTACT: Rebecca Gries, Milwaukee 7, 414.287.4140 PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wisc. – WestRock Company, a leading sustainable paper and packaging solutions provider, today announced plans to build an advanced corrugated converting facility in Pleasant Prairie. The…
WestRock to open cutting-edge converting facility in Pleasant Prairie
WestRock Company, a leading sustainable paper and packaging solutions provider, today announced plans to build an advanced corrugated converting facility in Pleasant Prairie. The state-of-the-art facility will be located at the LogistiCenter at Pleasant Prairie….
Milwaukee 7 launches new website
A strong online presence is imperative for organizations to thrive, and we are proud to showcase the next-generation website for Milwaukee 7 (M7). This economic development organization, a front-runner in business attraction, retention, and expansion across…
Village of Mount Pleasant, Racine County to consider expansion of Microsoft datacenter footprint
The Village of Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC), and Milwaukee 7 (M7) announced today plans for Microsoft to significantly expand its investment in Mount Pleasant. If approved by Village and…
High-precision tooling product manufacturer relocates to Wisconsin
Pictured here (from L): Joe Balog, Police Chief, Village of Genoa City; Derek D’Auria, Executive Director, Walworth County Economic Development Alliance; Dave Anstett, President, Powernail Company; Sam Rikkers, Deputy Secretary & COO, Wisconsin Economic…
Big Ideas, Small Deals
A $200,000 state tax credit award means St. Francis manufacturer Wixon Inc. can better pay for education and training for employees, or give hiring bonuses to attract talent. The company is in the midst of a $7.1 million expansion to increase its…
Company offering high quality turn-key manufacturing moving to MKE region
Centerline Design & Fabrication , a company offering turn-key solutions for end-to-end manufacturing, has signed a lease to move their operations from Waukegan, IL to Rawson Avenue in South Milwaukee at the former Bucyrus campus. The company had outgrown…
Menet Aero to Establish Headquarters in Southeastern Wisconsin
Today, Menet Aero, LLC, a designer, developer and manufacturer of tethered drone systems, joined with state and local officials to announce the company is establishing its headquarters and production facility in Oak Creek, and siting its field-testing operations…
Ingeteam announces will manufacture EV charging stations in Milwaukee
With this new investment, Ingeteam Electric Vehicle Chargers will increase its production capacity of DC Fast Chargers (DCFC) and L2 EV chargers (ranging from 7.5kW up to 420 kW) for the US market with a full commitment to accelerate the build out of the United States…
HERA launches credential portal to connect professionals with new skills
microcredential portal to help professionals find certification programs offered by higher education institutions in the region that support upskilling needs and career growth opportunities. The portal catalogs more than 120 programs in business, education,…
Construction well underway on a new $100 million plant and offices for global manufacturer
Construction is well underway on a new $100 million plant and offices in New Berlin for global manufacturer ABB Inc. With the exterior structure already erected, ABB will mark a milestone on the construction progress Tuesday. Company executives and the general…
BrightStar raising $10 million to back more Wisconsin startups
BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation Inc. is aiming to raise $10 million that it will use to invest in more Wisconsin startups with its unusual nonprofit venture capital model. Todd Sobotka said. “How do we leverage what we are and our position in the ecosystem to…
Village of Mount Pleasant, Racine County to consider land purchase agreement with Microsoft
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:March 27, 2023Media Contact: James Madlom or Mia Tripi414-390-5500 EITMZone@muellercommunications.com MOUNT PLEASANT, WIS. – The Village of Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC), Wisconsin Economic…
Johnson Controls planning new engineering center in Glendale
Johnson Controls is once again working with Milwaukee-based Weas Development Company to construct a new building across from its current headquarters campus in the City of Glendale.
Milwaukee one of 10 airports to earn international customer service award
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) has earned its first-ever Airports Council International (ACI) World 2021 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award for its success in delivering an outstanding customer experience. Airport Service…
West Coast company finds new home in Milwaukee
Company founder, Linda York, has developed a product that supports healthy eating in kids while encouraging kids to have fun with their food. The company makes edible stickers featuring some of the hottest stars in the Pre-K universe, including PAW Patrol, Elmo and…
Mayor Johnson to pitch Milwaukee as a tech hub at Austin’s SXSW festival
As the popular South by Southwest (SXSW) music, arts and technology festival kicks off Friday in Austin, Texas, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson will be there to pitch Milwaukee as an innovative city for businesses and individuals to invest in or as a place to…
Uline adding 4.5 million square feet of Kenosha County distribution space
Uline Inc., already a likely contender for the region’s largest building occupier with more than 10 million square feet of industrial and office space in Kenosha County, plans to develop four more large distribution centers. Those four buildings would bring…
A record number of Chicagoans are considering relocating to this hip midwestern town
A recent Redfin report chronicles the beginning of America’s Great Migration, whereby population density slowly shifts from larger urban centers into smaller cities and towns. With an increasing number of jobs going remote, many knowledge workers are…
Fiserv awarded state incentive of up to $7 million for downtown headquarters move
Fiserv Inc. will collect up to $7 million in state tax credits to move its headquarters from Brookfield to downtown Milwaukee if the company creates more than 257 jobs in the next five years. The company has 658 employees already in Wisconsin, including 504 in its…
Global cocoa processing company from Ghana established first North American manufacturing facility
Project Metrics INDUSTRY Food Manufacturing DIRECT JOBS 36 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE $17 million READ ESTATE 44,000 square feet LOCATION Franklin, Wisconsin “Taking into account proximity to customers, logistics, high-quality human capital, and a business-friendly…
Boston-based 3D printing company opened a Midwest regional headquarters
Project Metrics INDUSTRY 3D Printer Manufacturing DIRECT JOBS 100 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE $500,000 READ ESTATE 20,000 square feet LOCATION Milwaukee, Wisconsin “We are thrilled to build a team in the original ‘Machine Shop of the World.” LUKE WINSTON…
VC activity slowed in Q4 but Wisconsin had a strong 2022
Venture capital activity slowed nationwide in 2022 after years of frenzied investments and soaring company valuations, according to a Jan. 12 report from PitchBook and the National Venture Capital Association. While that trend also impacted Wisconsin’s venture capital…
Innovation datatool update released, measuring MKE’s economic progress
Metro Milwaukee’s concentration of workers in STEM occupations is a competitive strength, but it lags peer metros on other key metrics including productivity, household income, exports, and venture capital funding. That’s according to the recently updated…
Luxury boat maker Grand Craft has grown since move to Wisconsin
Genoa City-based Grand Craft Boats, a manufacturer of luxury wooden boats that have been sold to celebrities including Jennifer Lopez and Kid Rock, has already seen growth in its first year since relocating to Wisconsin – and it’s targeting more. Grand…
GE HealthCare completes spin-off, begins trading on Nasdaq
GE HealthCare Technologies Inc. has completed its spin-off from General Electric Co. and begins its trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market Wednesday. Chicago-based GE HealthCare (Nasdaq: GEHC) will immediately become part of Standard & Poor’s index of 500 key…
Employers committed to making Milwaukee a Region of Choice for diverse talent remain on track to reach goals
MILWAUKEE – A group of 125-plus Milwaukee Region employers engaged in the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) Region of Choice consortium remain on track to meet five-year goals for recruiting, retaining and advancing Black and…
Zillow acquires Milwaukee firm to bolster real estate software offering
Real estate tech company Zillow Group Inc. has acquired VRX Media, a real estate marketing company based in Milwaukee. The acquisition, announced Thursday, is meant to strengthen Seattle-based Zillow’s real estate software brand ShowingTime+, a platform for agents to…
Stella & Chewy’s to sell products in Petco stores
Stella & Chewy’s LLC has struck a deal with San Diego-based Petco Health and Wellness Company Inc. that will put products from the Oak Creek premium pet food company into Petco stores in all 50 states. Petco (Nasdaq: WOOF), which has more than 1,500 pet care…
Leinenkugel’s ranked in top U.S. brewery tours
The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. in Chippewa Falls ranked in USA Today’s top 10 brewery tours in America. The brewery, known for the popular Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy beer, ranked No. 8. The ranking highlighted the two options for brewery tours — the Legacy…
Rockwell Automation wins contract for Hyundai’s $5.5B U.S. battery plant
Rockwell Automation, which is targeting electric-vehicle manufacturers and suppliers as a growth market, hit a bullseye via a contract for Hyundai Motor Co.’s planned $5.5 billion electric vehicle and battery plant in Georgia. Rockwell Automation chairman and…
Fiserv HQ moving to downtown Milwaukee, adding 250 jobs
Financial technology and payments firm Fiserv Inc. is moving its global headquarters and hundreds of jobs from Brookfield to downtown Milwaukee, the company announced Thursday. The global headquarters project, which will include the addition of 250 jobs over five…
Call center marketing firm moving into top two floors of Third Ward office
A lease with growing Milwaukee call center marketing firm Atlas MKE helped a riverside Third Ward office building bounce from 30% to 90% occupancy after losing tenants earlier this year. Atlas MKE is taking over 12,200 square feet at 215 N. Water St., refilling its…
Scenes from MKE Tech Week
MKE Tech Week 2022, organized by the nonprofit Milwaukee membership group the MKE Tech Hub Coalition, included more than 40 events across the city throughout the first week of October. Here are some snapshots of just a few of the events….
Ghana-based Niche Cocoa locates first North American manufacturing facility in Franklin
From l. to r.: PNC Bank Regional President Chris Hermann (representing M7), Franklin Mayor Steve Olson, Niche Founder Edmund Poku, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Marisa Lago, WEDC CEO Missy Hughes, Omanhene Cocoa Founder Steve Wallace On Tuesday, Oct. 4,…
Niche Cocoa of Ghana chooses Franklin for U.S. manufacturing plant
Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd. of Ghana is building its first North American manufacturing facility in Franklin in what is the largest food and beverage investment by an African company in U.S. history. Representatives of Niche Cocoa joined local and federal officials to…
Matrix food packaging equipment maker expanding in Ozaukee County
Founded in 1988 in a home garage in Ozaukee County, Matrix Packaging Machinery’s equipment is now used in food distribution across the continent, and it is growing in Grafton to continue manufacturing all of its proprietary machine components in Wisconsin….
Massachusetts 3D printer company Formlabs launches Milwaukee office, its first location in the Midwest
A Massachusetts 3D printing company has opened a sales and service office in the Third Ward that is expected to grow to 150 employees in the next three years. Formlabs, launched in 2011, has grown to become the largest maker of benchtop 3D printers. Its…
Why a Utah food company picked Oak Creek for Midwest plant with 250 jobs
After its planned flagship plant with 250 jobs in Oak Creek became public, Thrive Foods on Friday received an email from a Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. official saying “we’re honored and happy that we are your state of choice.” That’s…
Waukesha-based energy firm is investing $53 million in its facilities across Wisconsin
Project Metrics INDUSTRY Energy Technology & Power Equipment Manufacturing DIRECT JOBS 700 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE $53 million REAL ESTATE Multiple expansions LOCATION Pewaukee and Wisconsin “We are proud to continue to expand our presence in Wisconsin as we…
The Water Council adds new programs to help companies tackle modern water challenges
It’s been almost a decade since The Water Council opened its Global Water Center at 247 Freshwater Way in Milwaukee, a facility dedicated to making the city and region the “Silicon Valley” of freshwater research and technology. While The Water…
Milwaukee Tool holds grand opening for new West Bend manufacturing plant
Today Milwaukee Tool held a special event with state and local officials to celebrate the grand opening of the company’s newest manufacturing plant in West Bend. Located 20 minutes from Milwaukee Tool’s global R&D headquarters in Brookfield, the…
Milwaukee confirmed as host of Republican National Convention in 2024
A delegation of 50 Milwaukeeans cheered the city’s coronation Friday for hosting the 2024 Republican National Convention as the party’s national committee finalized the decision during meetings in downtown Chicago. Republican National Committee chairwoman…
Materion to develop advanced chemicals for EV batteries, semiconductor chips in Milwaukee
Materion Corp., an advanced materials company in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, is establishing a facility on Milwaukee’s northwest side to accelerate the growth of advanced chemicals for the semiconductor and electric vehicle battery markets. The 150,000-square-foot…
These areas of southeastern Wisconsin are ‘hot’ for development, local real estate execs say
Westown, Haymarket and Greenfield were favorites for development among real estate executives at real estate CEO roundtable on Tuesday as they expressed mixed feelings between suburban and downtown investments. Speakers also discussed their reasoning for why…
Kohl’s store in downtown Milwaukee to open in fall 2023
Department store chain Kohl’s Corp. will open its first downtown Milwaukee store in fall of 2023 in the space of former competitor Boston Store. Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) will open a roughly 40,000-square-foot, smaller-format store in the Hub640 building at West Wisconsin…
Wacker Neuson to hire 200, invest $10M in Menomonee Falls plant for John Deere work
The Wacker Neuson Group will add 200 employees and invest over $10 million in its Menomonee Falls plant as a result of expanding its business relationship with John Deere for manufacturing excavators. The companies announced their agreement in June but not the details…
As metals for renewables drive mining growth, Komatsu debuts its new $285M plant
With the role of coal diminishing in the world’s energy future, why would Komatsu Mining Corp. — which is historically known for manufacturing coal-mining equipment — invest $285 million in a new plant and offices in Milwaukee? The answer is that the…
School uniform company could build new HQ in Oak Creek, move operations from Illinois
Global Schoolwear plans to expand its business distributing Tommy Hilfiger-branded uniforms with a proposed new facility in Oak Creek that would eventually take over operations currently in Illinois. That facility could grow to have about 100 workers during its peak…
Marquette receives over $1M from Omron Corp. to create automation lab
Omron Corp. has gifted over $1 million to Marquette University to establish an Omron Advanced Automation Lab in the university’s Opus College of Engineering. The lab will combine innovative industrial automation and robotics technology with supply…
Wisconsin Automation Implementation Grant announced
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., working with the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership Network (including WMEP Manufacturing Solutions), is offering the Wisconsin Automation Implementation Grant to help lower the risk of automation technology…
Husco signs $113 million, multi-year contract with North American automaker
Waukesha-based engineering and manufacturing company Husco has been awarded a $113 million contract with a North American automaker to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. The $113 million will be paid over multiple years with the unnamed company…
Merz North America, Inc. expands operations in Sturtevant and Franksville
Merz North America, Inc., an aesthetics and neurotoxin manufacturer, is expanding its facilities in Sturtevant and Franksville – an $8 million project expected to create 35 jobs over the next three years. “Merz has a global presence in its industry and…
Milwaukee ranks near top on MSN TravelAwaits’ 12 favorite U.S. cities
MSN TravelAwait’s ranked Milwaukee second on its list of the 12 favorite U.S. cities. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson shared the list on his Twitter Tuesday.MSN TravelAwaits highlighted several key attractions to Milwaukee including its nickname as “Brew City. “Just…
PartsBadger’s $14M job-creating contract hastens need for larger Milwaukee-area facility
Manufacturing technology startup PartsBadger LLC landed a five-year contract worth at least $13.8 million with Colorado-based mountain bike maker Yeti Cycles that will create Milwaukee-area jobs and accelerate PartsBadger’s need for a larger local facility….
Milwaukee Tool announces $206 million investment that will create 1,000 new jobs
Milwaukee Tool announced today at an event with Gov. Evers and Missy Hughes, Secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., that the company will invest $206 million and create 1,000 new jobs in Wisconsin. Milwaukee Tool continues to experience rapid growth…
Indiana-based Casting Cleaning Resources expanding operations to Menomonee Falls
Casting Cleaning Resources, an Indiana-based manufacturer that serves the foundry industry, is expanding its operations to Menomonee Falls, state and company officials announced today. Casting Cleaning Resources provides post-mold cleaning of iron castings to…
New African American Leadership Alliance Milwaukee CEO seeks to change city’s reputation
The African American Leadership Alliance Milwaukee, known as AALAM, has a goal for Milwaukee to become the global destination of choice for Africans Americans by 2025. “We know that Milwaukee has a lot of negative data points and metrics relative to the Black…
Milwaukee 7 goes public with $6 million fundraising campaign
The Milwaukee 7 Partnership for Economic Development is seeking to raise $6 million by 2025 to support its economic development efforts in southeastern Wisconsin. The campaign, which is being chaired by WEC Energy Group executive chairman Gale Klappa and Haribo of…
Scenes from sold-out American Family Field where Milwaukee Brewers open season with big win
Fans packed American Family Field Thursday to kick off the Milwaukee Brewers home season and the team responded with a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Check out the attached slideshow to see photos from inside and outside the stadium and to see some of the…
M7 Success Story: Milwaukee Tool, Global Brand with Regional Impact
Milwaukee Tool serves as an example of how public-private partnership can supercharge corporate growth. This document details how the company’s decision to expand in Brookfield is a win for all of Southeastern Wisconsin. Securing corporate investment is a…
Nosco expanding its Pleasant Prairie HQ
Nosco, Inc. is expanding its Pleasant Prairie packaging innovation center and headquarters facility by nearly 100,000 square feet, increasing its size to 271,000 square feet. Nosco, a packaging manufacturer, is a subsidiary of Deerfield, Illinois-based Holden…
Generac to start $20M expansion of R&D center at headquarters
Generac Power Systems will break ground in the coming months on a $20 million expansion at its headquarters outside Waukesha that will create a research-and-development lab. The project is one example of the fast-growing company’s ongoing commitment to Wisconsin…
Executives talk artificial intelligence and business at MMAC, MSOE event
Anyone who has ever typed a text message on an iPhone and seen suggested words or phrases pop up above their phone’s keyboard has experienced an everyday example of how artificial intelligence (AI) is being deployed across various applications. Chris Taylor of the…
AI, AR and VR: These 3 major Wisconsin firms are leveraging emerging technologies
From data science and artificial intelligence to augmented reality and virtual reality, Milwaukee-area technology leaders shared how they’re leveraging emerging technologies during a virtual panel discussion Feb. 18 at United Way of Greater Milwaukee &…
First employees will move into Milwaukee Tool’s new downtown office this month
Milwaukee Tool will start a move-in Feb. 28 for its first group of over 400 employees at the company’s new offices in downtown Milwaukee. The process will run until March 14 as employees take their places on the third and fourth floors of the building at 501 W….
Early-stage Wisconsin firms raised a record of nearly $811M in 2021
Investments in early-stage Wisconsin companies by angel and venture capitalists totaled at least $810.82 million across 111 deals in 2021, a 67% increase from the record set in 2020, according to early data released Monday by the Wisconsin Technology Council. The five…
Gov. Evers Welcomes Grand Craft Boats to Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers today visited the new production facility of Grand Craft Boats, a manufacturer of custom-built mahogany boats in Genoa City. The governor announced last year that Grand Craft Boats would be moving from Holland, Michigan to Genoa City. “Grand…
Wisconsin accelerator program for food and farm entrepreneurs goes national
From City Lights Brewing Co. and Valentine Coffee Co. to Funky Fresh Spring Rolls and Soul Brew Kombucha, the FaBcap Accelerator has helped 50 Wisconsin food and beverage companies find their footing. Now, the state-sponsored accelerator is transforming…
5 things to watch in Milwaukee’s tech and startup scene in 2022
National technology headlines in 2022 will be awash with news about web3, blockchain, crypto and the metaverse, as well as decentralized finance, and autonomous and electric vehicles. Those trends will likely impact the local technology and startup industry, too. But…
Nexus Pharmaceuticals named a 2021 Inc. Best in Business honoree
Nexus Pharmaceuticals is a 2021 Inc. Best in Business honoree. With the second annual Best in Business awards, Inc. recognizes companies that have had a superlative impact on their industries, their communities, the environment, and society as a whole. Meet…
Ingeteam celebrates 10 Years of Production in Milwaukee
Ingeteam is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the completion of its US offices and production plant, located in Milwaukee, WI. Built on a former brownfield in the city’s Menomonee Valley, the LEED Gold certified building was completed in 2011 and has…
Haribo’s Kenosha County plant being constructed with future expansion in mind
All of the Haribo Gold Bear gummis sold in the U.S. are shipped in from eight company factories in six different countries. That changes by the second quarter of 2023, when the German candy maker will bring online its first U.S. manufacturing facility. About 250 to…
Saputo plans new Franklin cheese facility with 600 jobs
Global dairy processor Saputo Inc. plans to build a $60 million cheese production, packaging and distribution facility with around 600 jobs in a new Franklin business park. And those plans are proceeding during a period in which the Canadian company is…
Wisconsin now builds some of world’s most luxurious vintage-style boats
GENOA CITY, Wis. — You might be surprised to learn that on a lonely rural Walworth County road next to a cornfield some of the world’s most expensive and luxurious vintage-style boats are being built. These boats range from $250,000 all the way up to $1.5…
gener8tor, Employ Milwaukee and Microsoft launch digital skills accelerator
Nineteen Milwaukee residents are currently participating in the city’s first gener8tor Upskilling cohort, a free program that teaches in-demand digital skills to job seekers. The program, which began late last month, is a partnership between gener8tor Management LLC,…
Generac plans to create 700 additional jobs, invest $53 million in its Wisconsin operations
Waukesha-based energy company Generac said Tuesday that it plans to significantly expand its presence in Wisconsin by adding 700 new jobs and investing $53 million in its operations. Generac’s business building power generator equipment for homes and…
Inside the We Energies STEM Center at MSOE: Slideshow
The We Energies STEM Center at the Milwaukee School of Engineering celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 22, one year after the nearly $1 million facility opened in September 2020. Located at 1444 N. Water St., the 10,000-square-foot center hosts MSOE’s STEM (science,…
Groundbreaking set for $35M Port Milwaukee ag-export facility
A groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for mid-October on Port Milwaukee’s largest project in at least six decades — a $35 million agricultural-product export facility on Jones Island. The Milwaukee Common Council on Sept. 1 approved Port…
Consulting Team Announced for New Downtown Plan
The City of Milwaukee has assembled its team to chart an equitable future for Downtown. The Department of City Development is partnering with Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District #21 and a team of contractors on the effort, known as “Connec+ing MKE…
Fundraising for $80M inclusive sports center kicks off
After securing money to buy land for their planned $80 million nonprofit sports facility on Milwaukee’s far north side, Damian Buchman and Franklin Cumberbatch are intensifying their fundraising efforts and aim for a 2025 opening for the inclusive center….
Arntzen Corporation to relocate production operations to Sharon, Wisconsin
Arntzen Corporation, a manufacturer of large-diameter steel piping critical for underground infrastructure, will move its Rockford, IL production facilities to the Village of Sharon in Wisconsin’s Walworth County. The company will employ 40 workers at its new…
Wisconsin Center expansion groundbreaking may start early; site prep underway
With preliminary site work underway for the $420 million Wisconsin Center expansion, the groundbreaking ceremony may be held as early as November — about one month earlier than previously announced. Fencing has been erected around the perimeter of the former…
Northwestern Mutual launches $100M impact investing fund, invests in Milwaukee’s Gateway Capital
Northwestern Mutual is earmarking $100 million to invest in Black communities on both a national and local level, with the goal of addressing inequality and the racial wealth gap, the Milwaukee-based life insurer and financial services firm said Tuesday. The new…
WEDC grant program to help small businesses find homes in Wisconsin
Businesses and nonprofits considering moving into a vacant Wisconsin commercial space may be eligible for a $10,000 Wisconsin Tomorrow – Main Street Bounceback Grant through a newly created program. “These grants are designed to give entrepreneurs a…
Evers, Steil attend opening of Nexus Pharmaceuticals’ manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie
Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Rep. Brian Steil were among those on hand Friday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of Nexus Pharmaceuticals’ new manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie. Nexus Pharmaceuticals is a woman-owned, privately held pharmaceutical company…
Produce firm awarded half million dollars in aid for $29M facility at former Dairyland site
Heartland Produce Co. is being awarded $500,000 in state income tax credits from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. for a $29 million headquarters and distribution facility breaking ground on former Dairyland Greyhound Park land in Kenosha. Wisconsin Gov. Tony…
Nexus Pharmaceuticals chose southeastern Wisconsin as the home for its first injectable drug manufacturing facility.
Project Metrics INDUSTRY Pharmaceutical Manufacturing DIRECT JOBS 200 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE $250 million REAL ESTATE 15 acres, 200,000 square feet LOCATION Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin “M7 did an excellent job communicating the Wisconsin value proposition, which…
Canadian manufacturer to create 120 jobs in Kenosha County after nationwide site search
After an “exhaustive” nationwide search of prospective buildings to host its first major U.S. manufacturing operation, Canada’s Balcan Plastics Inc. chose Pleasant Prairie where it aims to create up to 120 jobs. “Balcan is a long-standing,…
The largest influx ever of jobs to downtown Milwaukee by a suburban firm is coming after Milwaukee Tool financing plan approved
The largest influx ever of jobs to downtown Milwaukee by a suburban firm is on track after the Common Council on Tuesday approved a $20 million city financing plan for Milwaukee Tool’s new office. The council voted 15-0 to help Brookfield-based Milwaukee…
Milwaukee Tool is planning to expand its operations to downtown Milwaukee. That could bring up to 2,000 jobs to the city. – Choose Milwaukee
Pet food maker Stella & Chewy’s will expand its Oak Creek headquarters
A plan to nearly double the size of natural pet food maker Stella & Chewy’s Oak Creek headquarters is proceeding — a $67.7 million project expected to create 245 jobs over the next three years. The project is to generate up to $2 million in state income tax…
High-precision tooling product manufacturer relocates to Wisconsin
Project Metrics INDUSTRY Tooling Manufacturing DIRECT JOBS 23 CAPITAL EXPENDITURE $1.7 million READ ESTATE 25,000 square feet LOCATION Trevor, Wisconsin Family-owned, Advent Tool and Manufacturing, Inc., engineers and manufactures high-precision tooling products sold…