Racine County Emerges As A Premier Location
For the Energy, Power And Controls Industry
Racine County’s central location, reliable infrastructure, robust and capable workforce, and pro-business policies, help ensure successful and pain-free projects.
Wisconsin, including Southeastern Wisconsin and Racine County, with focus on balanced policy making and reasonable compliance requirements is known for providing a stable and predictable regulatory environment for businesses in the Energy, Power and Controls Industry.
Southeastern Wisconsin in General, and Racine County in particular, have been defined as a “climate haven”, situated to avoid the worst effects of natural disasters and have the infrastructure to support a larger population. Due to these factors, many businesses in the industry have made informed decisions to establish their operations in Racine County, thus optimizing efficiency, minimizing costs, and capitalizing on growth opportunities.
Skilled Labor
Racine County’s available pool of skilled workers, particularly with expertise in electrical engineering, power systems, and controls, is essential for the success of businesses in the industry.
As a global center for energy, power, and controls, Racine Companies are performing cutting-edge research and development by partnering with world-class academic institutions committed to addressing the world’s energy challenges. In 2024 nearly 5,000 engineering degrees and certificates were awarded by Wisconsin Universities ensuring a robust talent pipeline.
Through the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Wisconsin Energy Institute, and more, the State of Wisconsin is investing in research and creating a competitive advantage as a world leader in energy conservation to generation and transmission. The State employs over 115,000 workers in the energy power and controls sector. (https://wedc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/WEDC-Energy-Power-and-Controls-Industry-Profile-2024.pdf
Racine County companies employ over 30,000 professionals in manufacturing, amounting to 22% of the county’s total workforce.
Below are the County’s location quotients for selected fields related to energy, power, and controls (any location quotient over 1 indicates a competitive advantage in that field. (BLS)
| Field | Location Quotient |
|---|---|
|
Electrical Engineers (172071) |
1.38 |
|
Industrial Engineers (172112) |
2.70 |
|
Mechanical Engineers (172141) |
3.00 |
|
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians (173023) |
1.15 |
|
Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians (173026) |
1.74 |
|
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers (511011) |
2.81 |
|
Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers (512028) |
4.99 |
Infrastructure & Utilities
Racine County’s access to reliable infrastructure, including electricity, water, and transportation networks, proved to be crucial for manufacturing and distribution activities.
Racine County is served by We Energies, one of the Midwest’s largest electric and natural gas utilities, providing reliable and ample power supplies for industrial operations. We Energies has a system-wide reliability rate of over 99.9% for its customers and was named Best in the Midwest for 10 consecutive years.
One of Racine County’s prime locations, Mount Pleasant, saw a $1.2 billion investment in public infrastructure which included upgrades to roads, water, sanitary sewer, and power. The power investment included $147 million in electrical upgrades with multiple redundancies and 1,000 megawatt capacity as well as $173 million in natural gas upgrades with multiple redundancies and 1 million MCF capacity (source: issuu).
Racine County’s central location along the I-94 corridor and proximity to two major international airports, General Mitchell International Airport 23 miles to the north and O’Hare International Airport 52 miles to the south, as well as access to 33% of the nation’s population within 500 miles, gives the County a strategic advantage. In addition, the area boasts the second shortest average commute time among U.S. urban centers at 22 minutes. Racine County also benefits from access to additional forms of transportations such as passenger and cargo rail network, as well as access to ports on Lake Michigan. These multimodal transportation infrastructure advantages allow companies with a focus on energy, power, and controls to efficiently reach both domestic and international markets.
Proximity to Suppliers
Racine County offers close proximity to suppliers of raw materials, components, and equipment. As a result, transportation costs and lead times are significantly reduced, leading to more efficient operations.
The State of Wisconsin boasts more than 1,000 companies in the energy, power, and control sectors ensuring a robust supply-chain network. Companies such as Rockwell Automation, and Johnson Controls choose to call SE Wisconsin Home. Racine County’s industrial heritage and manufacturing expertise provide additional supportive ecosystem for companies, such as Premier Power Professionals, Tower Electric, Twin Disc, and Modine (source: WEDC).
Regulatory Environment & Incentives
Racine County provides easy access to resources that simplify the process of understanding and complying with regulations related to zoning, building codes, environmental standards. In addition, tax incentives, subsidies, and overall business-friendly policies throughout Racine County and the region have significantly impacted the bottom lines and long-term profitability of business in the industry.
Wisconsin, including Southeastern Wisconsin and Racine County, is known for providing a stable and predictable regulatory environment for businesses, with a focus on balanced policymaking and reasonable compliance requirements.
State (WEDC), regional (M7), and local (RCEDC) entities offer tailored support services, site selection assistance, and connections to local resources to help companies thrive in the area. These organizations provide comprehensive assistance and resources to help companies establish or expand their operations in the state.
The State of Wisconsin through WEDC has several tax credit programs to incentivize companies in the energy, power, and control industries. Locally, in Racine County, multiple incentive programs exist including tax incremental financing (TIF) and forgivable loan funds. By State statute, Wisconsin corporate income tax for manufacturers is 0.4% and in 2015 Wisconsin became a right-to-work state.
Research & Development
Access to universities, research institutions, and innovation hubs has proven to foster collaboration, support research and development efforts, as well as drive innovation within the industry.
The State of Wisconsin University (UW) system prides itself on academic excellence in theoretical and applied sciences. The UW system awards more than 41,000 degrees annually.
Racine County businesses benefit from collaboration and partnership with higher learning and training institutions that focus on customized training and a pipeline of young talent that ensures a prepared workforce.
