Northeastern Illinois. Southeastern Wisconsin. Chicago. Milwaukee. Deep dish pizza and hot dogs. Beer and brats. Bears, Cubs and Bulls. Packers, Brewers and Bucks.
Two different regions. Cultural opposites and rivals.
But now, as development booms along the I-94 North-South corridor, they are increasingly growing into one megaregion with a shared destiny.
Many Illinois executives no longer see Wisconsin as a faraway foreign land where they couldn’t imagine doing business. In fact, a growing number have moved their companies from the Chicago area to southeastern Wisconsin to take advantage of lower prices, less traffic, more land availability and a more business-friendly environment north of the state line.
One of the first and most noteworthy moves north was by Uline Inc., which moved its headquarters from Waukegan to Pleasant Prairie in 2010. The company has grown its Wisconsin presence and now has several facilities and more than 2,500 employees in Kenosha County.
It is an exciting time to do business in southeastern Wisconsin. Downtown Milwaukee is experiencing a major revival, including the opening of a new arena, Fiserv Forum, last fall. The massive Foxconn complex that is under development in Racine County could be a game-changer for the region’s economy. Kenosha County continues to attract businesses, including German gummy bear maker Haribo.
Please take some time to review this publication and consider the opportunities for your business in southeastern Wisconsin.
