Foxconn Technology Group Agrees to Build Manufacturing Plant in Wisconsin
Last week, President Trump, Speaker Paul Ryan and Governor Walker announced at the White House that Foxconn Technology Group, a Taiwan-based manufacturing company, has agreed to build a plant in southeastern Wisconsin.
Foxconn specializes in the design, manufacturing and assembly of global computer and high-tech consumer electronics products. The company is well known as the assembler of iPhones. Foxconn has chosen Wisconsin to build a high-tech manufacturing and technology campus to build Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD). This will be the first LCD facility of any kind in North America and will manufacture LCD screens that will be used in everything from self-driving cars to aircraft systems and in the fields of education, health care, and safety and surveillance.
Governor Walker, Vice President Pence, President Trump, Speaker Ryan, Foxconn CEO Terry Gou and Senator Johnson at the White House during the Foxconn Announcement
The proposed Foxconn complex will be located on at least 1,000 acres of land located at a site to be determined in southeastern Wisconsin. To put that into perspective, the size of this complex will be three times the size of the Pentagon, four times the size of the Chrysler Headquarters in Detroit, and would have the ability to fit eleven Lambeau Fields inside of it.
Foxconn plans to be operational starting in 2020. With 13,000 jobs and a capital investment of $10 billion, Foxconn’s investment in Wisconsin is by far the state’s largest economic development project and is the largest corporation attraction project in U.S. history as measured by jobs.
On Tuesday, the special session of the legislature called by Governor Walker officially began. The special session bill includes an incentives package necessary for Foxconn to locate in Wisconsin over several other states. The legislation regulating the incentives package is tied to actual performance of the company. No credits will be given if Foxconn fails to invest capital or create jobs. This legislation, known as August 2017 Special Session Assembly Bill 1, was up for a public hearing yesterday in the Assembly Committee on Jobs and the Economy. This bill is going to go through the normal legislative process consisting of committee hearings and committee votes before ultimately going to the Assembly/Senate floor. As with any piece of legislation, I believe that it is important to vet every proposal to see if we can make a bill better.
Governor Walker Discussing Foxconn at the White House
Office Staff Update
I would like to take this opportunity to wish Andrew Becker continued success as he has accepted a position with the Lieutenant Governor working outside of the Capitol. Drew was a great fit for the office since January when he took his role as Legislative Assistant. During that time, he has established many constituent relationships and I am confident that he will be a great asset to the Lieutenant Governor. Good luck, Drew!
Rep. Swearingen and Drew Becker
Governor Walker Announces Broadband Expansion Grant Recipients
Governor Walker and the Public Service Commission (PSC) announced today $1,500,000 in Broadband Expansion Grants, awarded to 13 projects in underserved areas throughout the state. Matching funds for these projects amounted to $2,310,475.60 for a total of $3,810,475.60 in broadband infrastructure investment.
The 34th Assembly District once again received significant grant dollars to expand broadband connectivity. This is another big win for our area!
Governor Walker created the Broadband Expansion Grant Program in the 2013-15 biennial budget and increased funding for the grants in the 2015-17 biennial budget from $500,000 to $1.5 million annually. The Governor’s proposed 2017-19 biennial budget provides $11 million more for the program over the next several years.
Recipients in the 34th Assembly District include:
ChoiceTel LLC ($72,846.40) – This project proposes to complete the construction of a fiber to the home service in the Town of Land O’Lakes in Vilas County, authorized in 3 grants in FY 2016, 2017 and 2018. When construction finishes in 2019, ChoiceTel will have buried over 60 miles of fiber optic cable along the main roads and side roads in the township, and will have connected over 1,000 customers to fiber to the home service.
Florence County ($66,712) – This project proposes to deploy a fixed wireless service from 3 towers in Florence County.
Oneida County Economic Development Corporation ($45,000) – This project proposes to build two additional towers in rural portions of Oneida County.
SonicNet Inc. ($6,746.47) – This project proposes to install a fixed wireless service on a county-owned tower in the Town of Conover in Vilas County. The project will also build microwave links to other SonicNet tower locations.
The Broadband Expansion Grants provide reimbursement for equipment and construction expenses incurred by efforts to extend or improve broadband telecommunications services in underserved regions of Wisconsin. To learn more about broadband expansion grants, please click here.
Rural Critical Access Hospitals
Wisconsin’s Rural Critical Access Hospitals were recognized as the best in the nation last week by the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for outstanding quality performance. Critical Access Hospitals are hospitals with fewer than 25 beds that provide essential medical services in rural areas.
The ranking was based on participation and achievement on the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project. Wisconsin’s critical access hospitals achieved the highest reporting rates and levels of improvement in the country over the past year! The top performing states are Wisconsin, Maine, Utah, Minnesota, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nebraska, Indiana and Massachusetts.
Currently, there are 58 Critical Access Hospitals in the state. In our area, we are fortunate to have great care and service provided by Ministry Eagle River Memorial Hospital, Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk, Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center in Merrill and Langlade Hospital in Antigo.
Oneida County Fair
Despite a little bit of rain, I had the opportunity to attend the opening ceremony of the Oneida County Fair last night. The fair continues to be one of the more exciting weekends of the summer and attracts people from all over the Northwoods.
The Oneida County Fair first started in the area in 1896. It was the year that Gene Shepard brought his mythical create, the Hodag, from timber camp folklore to real life. The Oneida County Fair offers family fun and entertainment for all ages, including a wide variety of musical groups, contests and games, community education, 4-H and open class exhibits, carnival rides and great food.
I hope that all the fair attendees enjoy this year’s event! Click here for the scheduled weekend events.
Rep. Swearingen addressing the crowd at the Opening Ceremony of the Oneida County Fair on Thursday, August 3
41st Annual Arbor Vitae Fireman's Picnic
The Town of Arbor Vitae and the Arbor Vitae Fire and Rescue Department will be hosting the 41st Annual Fireman's Picnic and Summerfest Festival at Firemen's Park in Arbor Vitae this Saturday and Sunday. This is always a great event and I would encourage you to stop by if you get the opportunity.
The Arbor Vitae community has always attracted a large turnout for the picnic with great music, drinks, and food. In addition, the Fireman's Picnic includes fireworks, a car show and the always entertaining water fight.
If you would like to view this weekend’s schedule please click here.
Water Fight at Arbor Vitae Fireman's Picnic from 2016
YMCA of the Northwoods Receives Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Award
June 29, 2017
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YMCA of the Northwoods Receives Energy Efficiency Award
RHINELANDER – YMCA of the Northwoods in Rhinelander has received a 2017 Excellence in Energy Efficiency Award from Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program.
With support and guidance from Focus on Energy, Wisconsin Public Service and other trade allies, the YMCA upgraded its pool dehumidifier system and the lighting in its pool and gym areas with energy efficient equipment. This commitment to energy efficiency placed it among 15 diverse recipients that received the statewide recognition.
The upgrades to the 55,000 square foot facility built in 2004 will save energy and money for the YMCA.
“When I was informed about the repairs and upgrades that were necessary to keep our facility operating properly I was very concerned about the cost involved,” said Toni Jaskowiak, YMCA of the Northwoods Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer. “With the assistance of Focus on Energy we were able to bring our facility up to today’s standards of efficiency. The incentive program definitely was a success for our YMCA.”
The YMCA of the Northwoods received $25,088 in incentives for the projects completed over the past year by Complete Control of Wisconsin Rapids. Focus on Energy is a statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program funded by participating Wisconsin utilities.
After hearing of the YMCA’s need for new lighting and pool equipment, Dave Nyquist, a Focus on Energy trade ally with Franklin Energy, helped secure the incentives. The new equipment generates an annual savings of $32,000 in energy costs, and an estimated savings in the first year of 54.39 kilowatts, 196,006 kilowatt hours and 34,424 therms.
Pictured at the June 27 awards presentation (left to right) is: Toni Jaskowiak, YMCA of the Northwoods Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer; Eric Borchardt, Complete Control of Wisconsin Rapids; Shane Sparks, YMCA of the Northwoods Board President; Dave Nyquist, Focus on Energy energy advisor; Jolene Sheil, Public Service Commission.
Focus on Energy works with eligible Wisconsin residents and businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. For more information, visit www.focusonenergy.com.
A list of all 2017 Excellence in Energy Efficiency Award recipients is available here.
Governor Walker Announces $16.9 Million in Community Improvement Awards
Governor Scott Walker announced $16.9 million in awards for 38 Wisconsin communities through Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facility and Planning Funds this week. CDBG is federal funding used to help towns, villages, and non-urban cities improve streets, infrastructure, and community buildings. Some examples of eligible projects include improvements, repairs, or expansions of streets, drainage systems, water and sewer systems, sidewalks, and community centers. Grants are limited to projects that, if implemented, would meet a CDBG National Objective.
The following communities in the 34th Assembly District Received the Community Improvement Award:
City of Eagle River: $500,000 for infrastructure and street imrovements
Town of Three Lakes: $500,000 for wastewater treamtnet facility upgrades
If you would like to learn more about the Community Development Block Grant, please click here.
Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce Receives Tourism Information Center (TIC) Grant
It was announced this week that the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce received a Tourism Information Center (TIC) grant from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism for the amount of $1,000. I would like to take the time to congratulate the chamber on receiving this grant!
The Tourist Information Center (TIC) Grant Program supports tourism industry partners that provide services for meeting, greeting and directing travelers on the road. Grant dollars help defray the center’s costs for customer service staffing and fund improvements to signage, audio visual equipment, and display equipment such as racks or shelving. For information on the TIC Grant Program, please visit http://industry.travelwisconsin.com.
Water levels across the state are still above average, but a small break from the recent heavy rains has allowed some area water bodies to stabilize a bit. This and breaks of brilliant sun in between the rough weather have brought out hikers and bikers, anglers and kayakers, bird watchers and butterfly spotters alike.
On the Winnebago system, Oshkosh DNR fisheries staff and a host of volunteers began the annual bottom trawling survey. The trawling assessment provides critical information on year class strength, population trends, and abundance of game and nongame fish species. Recent walleye catch on Winnebago is made up of adult fish between 15 and 18 inches. There are also good numbers of perch and crappie ranging from five to seven inches. Surveying will continue throughout the next few months. Angler report productive walleye fishing on Lake Winnebago as well as good perch fishing throughout the system.
The weather started to clear up just as last weekend rolled in, bringing out anglers and pleasure boaters alike. On Green Bay, anglers at the mouth of the Peshtigo were landing walleye, drum, catfish and small mouth; anglers on the Oconto were seeing much of the same, with some very large perch, middling walleye and rock bass added to the mix. The walleye bite has picked up some on the lower bay with angler off Suamico, Bayshore and Geano beach all finding a fairly consistent bite, with the majority of the boats bringing in three to four keeper walleyes.
Fishing pressure was high in Door County this past week due to a salmon tournament. Although it was a tough bite due to warm water conditions, chinook salmon and rainbow trout were being caught from Sturgeon Bay to Washington Island. A few anglers reported success with smallmouth bass around Egg Harbor. Yellow perch fishing has been fairly good with good numbers of fish being caught and fish up to 13 inches have been reported.
In southeast Lake Michigan harbors, anglers reported a mixed bag of coho and chinook being landed in addition to browns, lakers and rainbow trout. Alewives have moved farther down the water column and many anglers are using spoons. Many of the boaters in Ozaukee were there to participate in salmon derby. The majority of catches again went to trout and salmon.
Those catching trout have been seeing success late and midday. Water temperatures on the surface have been right around 68 to 70 degrees.
Buck antler growth has almost ended and they'll begin to shed velvet in a month or so. Continue to keep an eye out for fawns at roadsides as this year's youngsters grow up and start to move more independently.
On marshland across the state, Canada geese are starting to flock and stage on oat, cut hay fields and other open areas. Turkey broods with poults of all sizes are being seen, indicating there has been some renesting. Other birds out in the open include pelicans, egrets and herons.
The mosquitos have backed off just a touch, but expect them in force wherever wet areas meet woods. Blueberries are just passed peak and will start to decline while blackberries are ripening. Prairie flowers are in bloom and close to peak in most areas, much to the delight of local butterfly and bee populations. Keep your eye out for monarchs in your area! Compass and cup plant, blazing star, purple coneflower and swamp milkweed are just a few of those blanketing the open spaces in between woods, field and stream."
Archery, birding, cooking, hunting and fishing are among the fun things to be taught by Department of Natural Resources staff and expert volunteers during the free and family-friendly August Horicon Marsh Outdoor Skills Day on August 5.
Community Events
Please click the following links for upcoming community events!
