President Biden announces new AI facility in Mt. Pleasant

Biden visits Racine County to announce a new Microsoft facility, meet with Black voters

Updated: 10:13 PM CDT May 8, 2024

President Joe Biden made a significant announcement during his visit to Racine County in Wisconsin. The President announced Microsoft’s plan to invest $3.3 billion in building an artificial intelligence data center at the Foxconn site in Mount Pleasant. This new facility is expected to create 2,300 jobs, primarily in construction, by the end of the year.

The decision by Microsoft to invest in this data center comes after Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, failed to fulfill its promises to build a massive facility in the same location. Former President Donald Trump had broken ground for the Foxconn project, but it never materialized. President Biden took a jab at Trump during his speech, highlighting the failed promises of the previous administration.

After the announcement, President Biden engaged with Black voters at Racine’s Bryant Community Center to discuss the importance of the upcoming election. Recent polling data shows that only 37% of Black voters in Wisconsin are “very enthusiastic” about the presidential election, making it a crucial demographic for the President to engage with.

Republican Congressman Bryan Steil criticized President Biden’s visit, accusing him of taking credit for work that began over a decade ago. Despite the criticism, the President’s visit and the announcement of the new Microsoft facility signal a positive development for job creation and economic growth in Racine County.

The President’s visit comes at a time when Wisconsin is a key battleground state, with recent polls showing a tight race. President Biden narrowly won Wisconsin in the 2020 election, and his visit to announce the Microsoft investment underscores his administration’s commitment to creating jobs and revitalizing American manufacturing.