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Last month, Yaskawa America announced plans to invest $180 million to build a new headquarters campus in the Franklin Business Park.

One glance at the Conway Projects Database shows this progress. From Microsoft’s $3.3 AI data center development in Mount Pleasant to Eli Lilly’s $3.5 billion expansion of its pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Kenosha County, Wisconsin is experiencing a technology and manufacturing boom.

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 manufacturing on U.S. soil, the momentum has never let up. If anything, the pace has only quickened. And through it all, the states that earn Shovel Awards have led the charge, securing investments, creating jobs, and laying the groundwork for sustainable, long-term economic success.

Wisconsin is gaining national attention as a dynamic technology hub, attracting global corporations, high-growth startups, and pioneering researchers who are reshaping advanced manufacturing, biohealth, and clean energy. By aligning talent, resources, and industry partnerships, the state is creating a climate where innovation thrives and businesses scale.

Franklin, WI, June 13, 2025 – Governor Tony Evers, together with Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and company officials, today announced that Yaskawa America Inc. will invest $180 million and create more than 700 new high-paying jobs in Wisconsin. 

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.

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.

Wisconsin has emerged as a hot spot for hyper-scale data centers, and the state’s top economic development official predicts more such projects.

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 becoming more sought after as artificial intelligence development advances.

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 third—just behind San Diego and Chicago. Some of the best things to do in Milwaukee also make up the many reasons to visit: A growing restaurant scene, plenty of culture from museums and festivals, overall walkability, and enough city amenities for the Midwest gem to truly feel desirable. This is officially no longer just a small town, and with so many local colleges and a venerated art museum, there is strong curiosity and willingness to embrace the new and cater to the city’s growing younger population that has been steadily growing for the past decade.