According to Realtor.com, The Wisconsin housing market is heating up, with Southeast Wisconsin leading the way. Among the nation’s 20 hottest housing markets this month, Racine County claimed the No. 7 spot, joining six other Wisconsin metros on the list. The region is quickly becoming a top destination for homebuyers drawn to its growth, affordability, and quality of life.

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.

Microsoft recently committed to investing heavily in building a data center in the Village of Mount Pleasant in Racine County, Wisconsin. Here are the latest updates.

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.

According to a recent analysis by the Badger Institute, Racine County experienced the highest rate of new construction in Wisconsin for 2024—posting a 4.83% increase in property value from net new construction (after accounting for demolitions). This growth rate is nearly three times the statewide average of 1.65% and almost double that of the next-highest county, Adams, which came in at 2.94%.

The Village of Sturtevant (The Village), in collaboration with Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) is pleased to announce support for Grand Appliance’s upcoming facility expansion in Sturtevant. Since relocating to Sturtevant in 2017, Grand Appliance has invested in approximately 11.23 acres, generating an assessed value of $8,040,400. The company’s new expansion project includes a 48,000-square-foot addition to its current facility, part of a larger 137,000-square-foot building. With a total investment of $4.5 million, the expansion is projected to create 15 new jobs over the next three years, offering an average salary of $55,000.

Southeast Wisconsin is gaining national recognition for its strong economy and skilled workforce as traditional industries like manufacturing join emerging sectors such as AI, clean energy, and biohealth. Reports like “Wisconsin: Capturing More Than a Moment” highlight the region’s appeal to global corporations and startups due to its business climate, tax incentives, and access to talent. Major investments, such as Microsoft’s $3.3 billion data center in Mount Pleasant, will create hundreds of jobs and boost demand for technical talent.

CNH Industrial has begun relocating hundreds of employees to its newly acquired office building in the Village of Waterford. The company purchased the former Runzheimer International corporate headquarters in March and is now transitioning 230 employees to the site.

Woodman’s Markets has opened a new 240,000-square-foot store in Racine, marking its 20th location and its first new Wisconsin store since 2015. As reported by the Milwaukee Business Journal, the Janesville-based grocer purchased 21 acres of the former Regency Mall site in 2024 and developed the property into its newest full-service store.

SC Johnson has announced plans to shift roughly 170 positions from its Chicago office to its Mount Pleasant facilities by the end of 2026. The move aligns with the company’s long-term goal of strengthening collaboration across teams following its recent restructuring into two main divisions.

Water plays a vital role in site selection, especially for industries that depend on it for manufacturing, cooling, cleaning, or agriculture. In the article “Water Resources: Water & Site Selection” by Business Facilities, water access is identified as a key driver of economic development. In Southeast Wisconsin, this essential resource isn’t just plentiful and high quality—it’s a strategic advantage for businesses planning long-term growth.

Zilber Property Group has begun construction on Zilber Industrial 2, a 142,560-square-foot speculative industrial facility at 4300 Carly Avenue in the new Caledonia Corporate Park in Racine County.