GZ PrintPak, part of Czech-based GZ Media, has selected Mount Pleasant for its U.S. manufacturing expansion. The company is investing $7.1 million in a 69,000 sq. ft. facility to produce fully recyclable luxury paper bags, creating 40 new jobs. Future plans include adding collapsible and rigid box production, co-packing services, and exploring additional printing capabilities.
This expansion is driven by increasing demand from U.S. customers and the need to strengthen domestic supply chains for advanced data and technology infrastructure. Foxconn leaders say the company’s Wisconsin workforce—already a significant portion of its U.S. employees—will nearly double by the end of the decade.
Discover the latest economic development news happening in Racine County! Some features from this edition include Microsoft’s investment in the community, RCEDC’s Leadership Council exploring career connections for young talent, BizStarts Racine’s third cohort graduation, and more.
Get confident with your day-to-day bookkeeping. Join CLA for the second session of our QuickBooks Online Training Series, presented by RCEDC and RAMAC, on January 22, 2026, 5–6:30 PM at Gateway Technical College’s SC Johnson iMET Center auditorium. This session covers managing customers and vendors, invoicing, payments, bills, and bank feeds, with hands-on practice in entering and matching transactions.
Microsoft joined the Village of Mount Pleasant in 2023 and is building two datacenters that will support the company’s global cloud operations. Alongside construction, Microsoft is making meaningful investments that benefit Racine County residents, students, and the environment.
Nine Racine County entrepreneurs celebrated their graduation from the BizStarts Racine program on October 9, 2025, at Gateway Technical College’s iMET Center—marking the completion of another successful cohort. Presented by RCEDC in partnership with the BizStarts Institute, this year-long program supports aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs in turning their ideas into sustainable businesses.
On November 12, 2025, Southeast Wisconsin’s top entrepreneurs gathered at the Kenosha Innovation Center for the Pitch Perfect Competition, showcasing the region’s brightest startup talent from Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties. The event highlighted innovative ideas and fostered collaboration across the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Smallman Tools & Equipment, founded by Nick Smalley, has acquired a commercial property at 732 S. Pine Street in Burlington to support the company’s continued growth. After launching the business in 2023 and transitioning from a mobile tool distributor to an independent supplier serving customers across Wisconsin and Northern Illinois, Smalley is expanding retail, online, and mobile sales operations while creating a centralized hub for inventory and administration. The project was supported through a partnership between RCEDC and Community State Bank, utilizing a Community Loan to help position the business for long-term success and expansion.
At the October 14, 2025, RCEDC Leadership Council meeting, local educators in a panel discussion highlighted how Racine County high schools are equipping students for future careers and fostering connections with area employers.
Major employers such as Amazon, Uline, Haribo, Microsoft, and Eli Lilly are expanding across Racine County and Southeast Wisconsin, creating thousands of new jobs. This rapid growth has put pressure on the housing market, prompting economic development leaders to focus on residential needs alongside traditional commercial development. At the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Racine/Kenosha Growth Summit on Oct. 22, RCEDC’s Executive Director, Jenny Trick, noted that Racine County has added roughly 5,000 multifamily units since 2018.