CEO Guide to Site Selection

Wisconsin

Driving Investment

Manufacturing, tech and healthcare remain strong drivers in Wisconsin. Big announcements include Yaskawa America relocating to Franklin, Eli Lilly’s $4 billion investment and Microsoft investing an additional $4 billion. The state also continues to leverage workforce attraction and incentive programs. In FY25, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation awarded 259 grants to businesses and communities, totaling $41.2 million.

“Our administration has been hard at work to support efforts to invest in local businesses, grow strong partnerships, provide essential financial assistance and uplift local economies—and we’ve had record-breaking years to show for it.”
Tony Evers
Governor

TAXES

0 %

top corporate income tax

# 0

on the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index

EDUCATION

0 %

of adults 25 years of age and older graduated high school

0 %

of adults age 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

0 %

RIGHT TO WORK STATE

Yes

QUALITY OF LIFE

# 0

POPULATION GROWTH

0 %

increase between 2020 and 2024

KEY INCENTIVES

Business Development Tax Credit (BDTC) Program: Offers refundable tax credits to businesses that create jobs, invest capital (minimum of $250,000), train workers or locate corporate headquarters in Wisconsin. Credits can cover up to 15 percent of capital investment.

Small Business Development Grant (SBDG): Offers grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to businesses with fewer than 25 employees to help with startup costs, expansions and business financing.

EDCs

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

wedc.org

Madison Region Economic Partnership

madisonregion.org

Greater Green Bay Chamber

greatergbc.org/economic-development

BIG DEALS

  • Yaskawa America announced in June 2025 a $180 million expansion and the relocation of its headquarters from Waukegan, Illinois, to Franklin.
  • Eli Lilly announced in August 2025 a $4 billion investment and 750 new jobs in Wisconsin.
  • Microbial Discovery Group announced in September 2025 a $30 million expansion in Franklin that will create 46 jobs over the next three years.
  • Milwaukee Tool announced in September 2025 a $42 million investment and 300 new jobs at a new facility in Menomonee Falls.
  • Microsoft announced in September 2025 a $4 billion investment in its Mount Pleasant campus, for a total of more than $7 billion invested in the state.

BIG COMPANIES

Eight Fortune 500 company HQs in the state.

Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.