CEO Guide to Site Selection

Wisconsin

RECORD GROWTH IN THE BADGER STATE

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation notes the state experienced record capital investments of $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2024. It was the highest level since WEDC was created in 2011 and surpassed the previous record of $1.8 billion in FY 2019. Some of the projects supported through WEDC include Kikkoman Foods’ $800 million expansion of a manufacturing facility in Jefferson and Charter Next Generation’s $270 million expansion of its state-of-the-art facility in Milton. Additionally, Nestlé Purina announced a $195 million expansion of pet food operations in Milton, and ABB invested $78 million in a new American headquarters and manufacturing facility for electric drive and motion services in New Berlin.

“Whether it’s the expansion of businesses like Kikkoman Foods and Nestlé Purina in Jefferson or Rosewood Dairy’s new state-of-the-art cheese plant in Clay Banks, now is an incredibly exciting time for business growth in Wisconsin…. We’ve been making smart, strategic investments in our infrastructure, our schools, our communities and our workforce, and those efforts are paying off. Businesses want to expand or move to Wisconsin because they know we’ve got the hardworking people, innovative spirit and strong institutions to ensure they succeed here.”
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 2023

KEY INCENTIVES

The Business Development Tax Credit Program: Offers a tax credit for businesses locating in or relocating to the state that increase their net employment each year.

Diverse Business Development Program: Designed to support minority, women, LGBTQ and veteran business development through direct assistance to nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin.

ExporTech™ Program: Offers customized international growth plans and assistance to help companies go to market with exports.

Wisconsin’s Enterprise Zone Tax Credits: Available for Wisconsin businesses that have significant expansion projects or are relocating major business operations from other states.

EDCs

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

wedc.org

Madison Region Economic Partnership

madisonregion.org

Greater Green Bay Chamber

greatergbc.org/economic-development

HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAM OR INITIATIVE

Wisconsin’s Qualified New Business Venture (QNBV) Program offers incentives for investment in early-stage (in operation for less than 10 consecutive years) Wisconsin-headquartered businesses with the potential for significant economic impact and job growth. The program is designed to benefit investors, entrepreneurs and Wisconsin’s economy.

BIG DEALS

  • Wisconsin saw record planned capital investments or more than $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2024. The state also achieved new record highs for employment in
    the summer of 2024 and ranked first in the nation for inflation-adjusted hourly wage earnings growth.
  • Manufacturing company A.Y. McDonald announced in January 2024 a $340 million expansion and 173 new jobs over the next five years in Grant County.
  • Nestlé’s $195 million expansion of its facility in Jefferson is expected to create an additional 100 jobs.
  • Microsoft announced in May 2024 a $3.3 billion investment in a state-of-the-art data center campus in Mount Pleasant. The project is expected to support
    more than 2,000 construction jobs in addition to longterm employment opportunities in the coming years.
  • Kikkoman announced in June 2024 an $800 million investment in an expansion and new facility. The project is expected to create more than 83 jobs.

BIG COMPANIES

Eight Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state:

  • American Family Insurance
  • Fiserv
  • Kohl’s
  • ManpowerGroup
  • Northwestern Mutual
  • OshKosh
  • Rockwell Automation
  • WEC Energy Group
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.