Biden, in alliance with Microsoft, intends to establish an AI data center at the abandoned Foxconn facility.
Racine's Tech Boom:
Microsoft's whopping $3.3 billion venture in artificial intelligence (AI) takes root in Racine, Wisconsin - a move that's bolstering the region's technology scene, building onFOXCONN's earlier efforts.
On the scene this Wednesday, the Biden administration announced Microsoft's ambitious project, slated to establish an AI data center on Foxconn's former investment land. Approximately 2,300 union construction jobs and 2,000 permanent positions are on the horizon, as per the administration's claims.
Digital economy opportunities await thousands of Wisconsin residents, with the tech titan set to make its mark - courtesy of President Joe Biden's visit to Racine, scheduled for the announcement day.
Benefits for the Racene job seekers include growth pathways, comprehensive benefits like paid family leave, as well as a commitment to local innovation and workforce development.
Microsoft's plans involve collaborating with Gateway Technical College to launch a Datacenter Academy, nurturing 1,000 trained professionals in data center and STEM roles by decade's end. Additionally, a Co-Innovation Lab and programs with startup accelerator Gener8tor are in the works for upskilling 1,000 Wisconsin business leaders, equipping them to leverage AI effectively.
MSA's investment arrives six years post-Trump's $10 billion Foxconn promise for Racine, which ultimately failed to materialize, with only around 1,000 manufacturing jobs currently available. The saga saw the bulldozing of 100 homes and farms, as well as over $500 million of taxpayer dollars invested to prep the site, according to the Biden administration.
The U.S. government, led by Biden, has set aside billions for AI development through the CHIPS and Science Act, bolstering advancements in the sector by chipmakers like Intel, TSMC, and Samsung.
What Racine city dwellers can rejoice about, Microsoft's presence marks the dawn of new technological opportunities, right in their backyard!
[1] Foxconn, Trump, and the Proposed Revolution of Wisconsin's Tech Industry (The Atlantic, 2018)[2] Metcalf, A. B. (2021). The Rise and Fall of Foxconn's Wisconsin Factory (The Washington Post)[3] The Hidden Water Demand of Big Data Centers (Scientific American, 2019)[4] Backus, N. (2021). Wisconsin Plans to Develop a Green Data Center Hub (Government Technology)
- The tech giant, Microsoft, is investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI) and is supposed to establish an AI data center in Racine, Wisconsin, following in the footsteps of Foxconn's earlier efforts.
- The tech titan's ambitious project, announced by the Biden administration, will allegedly create approximately 4,300 jobs, combining union construction roles and permanent positions.
- In the spirit of fostering local innovation and workforce development, Microsoft plans to collaborate with Gateway Technical College to launch a Datacenter Academy, aiming to train 1,000 professionals in data center and STEM roles by the end of the decade.
- Furthermore, Microsoft is alleged to be working on a Co-Innovation Lab and programs with startup accelerator Gener8tor, aiming to upskill 1,000 Wisconsin business leaders in AI and tech-related fields.
