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President Joe Biden is set to visit Racine, Wisconsin, today to reveal a significant $3.3 billion investment by Microsoft, as announced in a White House press release.
This investment will see the construction of an AI data centre on the same site previously designated for the failed Foxconn project.
According to the White House statement, Microsoft's venture is a pivotal component of Biden's Investing in America initiative and is projected to generate approximately 2,300 union construction jobs and up to 2,000 permanent positions.
The investment will be implemented through a four-part strategy aimed at fostering long-term economic benefits for the state of Wisconsin and its job market.
In addition to the AI data centre, Microsoft plans to establish an AI innovation lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a "Data Center Academy" at Gateway Technical College.
The academy aims to train 1,000 individuals in the community for data centre and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers by 2030.
Furthermore, the AI lab intends to collaborate with 270 Wisconsin companies by the same year. Microsoft also announced a partnership with United Way to provide training on generative AI to over 100,000 individuals across the state.
However, Wisconsinites may harbour scepticism due to the aftermath of the Foxconn project announced during the Trump administration.
Promised as a massive LCD factory with potential for job creation, the Foxconn initiative fell short of expectations, with many of its pledges remaining unfulfilled.
Despite significant public investments and promises, the project faced downsizing and controversy, leaving Racine worse off.
The announcement of Microsoft's investment in Racine is part of Biden's broader manufacturing push ahead of the 2024 election.
This includes recent commitments such as the $5 billion investment in semiconductor manufacturing under the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act and $20 billion in grants and loans for Intel's expansion of semiconductor production in Arizona, creating thousands of new jobs.
