President Biden Wisconsin visit; highlights $3.3B Microsoft data center
RACINE, Wis. - President Joe Biden traveled to Racine on Wednesday, May 8, to highlight a decision by Microsoft to build a $3.3 billion data center that is expected to employ about 2,300 union construction workers to build it and then 2,000 permanent employees to staff it.
"What we’re fundamentally building is a huge complex, AI-cloud data center," Microsoft’s president Brad Smith said. "Just think of it as what the world will use, certainly the people in the United States, to access AI technology, run applications that will be on your phone, it will be on your computer. I think it’s going to continue to transform the world."
Biden's trip to Wisconsin, his fourth of the year and 11th as president, celebrated Microsoft’s announcement in a key battleground state that could decide who wins the White House.
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"Ultimately what we really hope is this is going to lay the foundation for Wisconsin to remain a global leader in manufacturing and for people in Wisconsin to fill these jobs and have great manufacturing careers," Smith said.
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It comes on land cleared for another tech company: Foxconn. Foxconn didn’t own the land, but it had the first option to buy it.
It had to sign off to allow Microsoft to move forward with this project.
Microsoft President Brad Smith
"Foxconn turned out to be just that: a con," Biden said.
Former President Donald Trump visited in 2018. He called the Foxconn project "the eighth wonder of the world."
That investment promised 13,000 jobs, but the numbers never materialized.
President Biden arrives at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
"Literally holding a golden shovel promising to build the eighth wonder of the world," Biden said. "Are you kidding me? Look what happened: they dug a hole with those golden shovels and then they fell into it."
But Foxconn reports it invested $1 billion into the state and makes data servers here, employing 1,000 workers.
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"We've seen tremendous infrastructure, tremendous business development in Racine," Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming said. "A lot of good things have happened in Racine and as we say: we welcome the jobs and development that will come today, but a lot of what happened down there started under Gov. Walker and President Trump."
President Biden arrives at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
As the many years of battles over Foxconn now stretches into 2024, Biden’s visit highlights how crucial Wisconsin is to winning the White House.
One of the country’s few toss-up states, Trump was here last week. This week is Biden, and next week is Vice President Kamala Harris.
Racine County, in particular, historically sided with Trump. He won about 49.5% in 2016 and got more in 2020.
Reaction
Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh
"President Biden has prioritized investments that are bolstering Wisconsin’s economy, creating jobs, and growing opportunities for Wisconsin workers. Whether it’s supporting developments like Microsoft’s expansion in Racine, or lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs through legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden’s leadership has made our state stronger.
"As he returns to Wisconsin today, Congress still has the opportunity to support the President’s next federal budget proposal. His plan includes tax cuts for working families and forces billionaires and big corporations to pay their fair share. By improving tax fairness, we can strengthen programs that support working families and seniors, including Medicare and Social Security. It’s time for Congressman Bryan Steil to work with President Biden and find common ground on policies that help Wisconsinites succeed."
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester)
"Today’s exciting announcement of Microsoft’s plan to create thousands more jobs in Racine County has very little to do with President Biden and everything to do with the efforts of local elected officials, local economic development leaders and Microsoft, itself.
"Today should have been an acknowledgement of the hard work of Mount Pleasant President Dave Degroot and the Mount Pleasant Village Board for having the foresight to build this field of dreams. It should have also been a thank you to Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave and Racine County Board members who made the investment.
"Instead, much like he’s asked us to ignore how much we pay in groceries and gas every week to credit him for what he maintains is a strong economy, President Biden is now asking us to ignore their efforts so he can take all the credit in an invite-only reelection stunt."
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler
"Today, President Biden returns to southeast Wisconsin to actually deliver the sort of jobs and investment that Trump breathlessly promised for years. Thanks to this new $3.3 billion investment, Wisconsin will see 2,300 union construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs over time, as Microsoft constructs a new, state-of-the-art AI data center on the site where Trump once hoisted a golden shovel and trumpeted the ‘8th wonder of the world.’ Where Trump brought only broken promises, wasted taxpayer dollars, and massive handouts to foreign corporations, President Biden is delivering real jobs and investment to southeast Wisconsin. Wisconsin Democrats are thrilled to welcome President Biden back to Wisconsin."
U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wisconsin)
"Microsoft’s investment in our community and the jobs that will come with it is welcomed, especially during this time of high inflation and increasing cost of living for so many American families. While he is here, President Biden should stop at a grocery store and talk to Wisconsin workers whose cost of living is up over 18%.
"With the announcement of the new data center, it is essential that we work to build the energy infrastructure needed to power the facility, including the natural gas pipeline. While the Biden administration’s policies are driving inflation higher, I will continue working to make Wisconsin a great place for private investments that create jobs."