It's a first for Foxconn as a high profile get together in Milwaukee between Gov. Tony Evers and Foxconn’s Terry Gou took place Thursday for the multi-billion dollar project.
Their first face to face meeting lasted about 30 minutes. The conversation was described as constructive, with an opportunity to get to know each other.
Evers has expressed doubt Foxconn will get to 13,000 jobs but wants the company to succeed in Wisconsin and struck an optimistic tone before the meeting.
“I’m looking forward to making sure that you (Foxconn) are successful,” said Evers. “And that the state of Wisconsin, we protect the taxpayers and environmental standards that we have in the state, so I’m looking forward to that.”
Gov. Evers has said Foxconn came to the state this year looking for some changes in the contract worth $3 billion. Foxconn says it was just looking for some flexibility.
The company says it will be building a manufacturing facility in Mount Pleasant, creating 1,500 jobs by next year in addition to construction jobs.
After the meeting, Evers talked with the Racine Journal Times about his conversation with Gou and Foxconn.
“I’m not doubting their word," he said. "I’m just saying that we want as much clarity as we can going forward and we talked about what they’re doing right now as far as building. They’re hoping to have the new plant up and running as soon as possible.”
Former Gov. Scott Walker, who help negotiate the deal to land Foxconn, also meet with Gou today.
“The bottom line is I have every confidence they’re going to continue to make the investment that they originally stated,” said Walker. “And we’ve got a contract to back it up.”
Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave says bids for the project will go out Friday and next week for the manufacturing plant.
“We hope by the end of next year - not hope, we are sure we are going to have advanced manufacturing - a multi million square foot facility,” said Delagrave.
Foxconn’s Gou also met with President Trump Wednesday at the White House.
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said, “Mr. Gou is spending a lot of money in Wisconsin and soon will announce even more investment there.” But
Sanders offered no other explanation about what that would mean.
Foxconn has not said how the meeting went with Gov. Evers. We will update the story if we hear from Foxconn.
