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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 for their strong hiring, decent salaries and affordability. Instead of Atlanta or Chicago, consider Birmingham, Ala., or Milwaukee. Or think Baltimore, in lieu of Washington, D.C.

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.

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.

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. 

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.