Could Foxconn plant in eastern Wisconsin help La Crosse area?

Hope is Foxconn could utilize businesses from all over state. 

The plan to bring Foxconn to Wisconsin is running into opposition from some taxpayers, because of a $3 billion incentive deal.

However, the head of the La Crosse Chamber of Commerce says there’s some confusion about the nature of the incentive package.

“Saying things like, ‘Take the $3 billion and spend it on transportation.’ The $3 billion doesn’t exist if Foxconn doesn’t come,” chamber executive director Vicki Markussen said. “The $3 billion is created because of the taxes that would be paid on the Foxconn project.”

The chamber took a survey of area businesses. Of the 680 businesses in La Crosse, 15 percent responded (106 businesses), and 58 percent of those were in favor of the incentive package being provided to Foxconn. Another 12 percent had no opinion while 19 percent were not in favor.

There’s hope that the Foxconn plant for eastern Wisconsin could mean business for related companies in the La Crosse area.

Markussen said she’s interested “to find out what vendors Foxconn needs, because this is a new U.S. location. Helping identify what vendors they need to help tie those into our la Crosse area businesses.”

Markussen says area companies that could provide Foxconn with materials for its own production needs could get a lot of business from the Taiwanese company.