Foxconn’s proposed projects in Wisconsin have encountered setbacks from the beginning. Criticized as a political push by outgoing governor Scott Walker, it now comes to Governor Tony Evers to watch the effects of the $4.5 billion in subsidies.

 

The corporation missed its required target to hire 260 people by the end of 2018. In line with Foxconn’s own year-end report, they appoint 178 people, while a filing with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation at the end of 2018 showed 158 employees on the books. An investigative piece from The Verge in April have found many Foxconn-owned offices and lots standing unused.

 

The agreement said that Foxconn required to employ at least 260 people to receive subsidies of $219,000 per job. The company promised 13,000 jobs at the end of the project. To help receive subsidies at the end of 2019, Foxconn needs to have 520 staff members, with the target numbers rising from there. With employing slow, it doesn’t look likely the Taiwanese tech magnate will hit that goal.  

 

Most of the money reserved for the project are already spent, with taxpayers supporting the buying of land and the creation of infrastructure for new corporate environments. Foxconn could also still see some subsidies from investing in those buildings and equipment, even if it does not hire another person.

 

Evers has been generally opposed to the Foxconn plan, as well as to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., an economic development agency created in 2011. His administration did not respond when asked by The Verge whether they would consider a renegotiation of the deal.

 

Foxconn’s first deal planned for the creation of a LCD fabrication facility and several “innovation centers.” A search for Foxconn jobs in Milwaukee, Wis. and the surrounding area shows openings for a product manager, equipment technician, manufacturing engineer, and others.

 

This article is originally posted on tronserve.com