Racine County economic development reports $158 million in expected private investment, asks Mount Pleasant for 3% contract increase
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Summary
Racine County Economic Development told the Mount Pleasant Village Board it assisted 84 businesses and expects roughly $158 million in private investment from projects it supported; the agency asked the village for a 3% contract increase and highlighted local wins including a Czech manufacturer adding 40 jobs.
Racine County Economic Development Center representative Laura Millian told the Mount Pleasant Village Board on Feb. 9 that the county program assisted 84 businesses under its contract and that the projects supported this year are expected to yield about $158,000,000 in new private investment.
"We assisted 84 businesses with financial assistance and through the Biz Starts program," Millian said, adding that "the projects are expected to result at about a $158,000,000 in new private investment." She reviewed countywide metrics and called out Mount Pleasant-specific outcomes, including 16 site information requests, 37 business recruitment prospects for the village and three local business expansion projects that used a Racine County matching grant.
Millian highlighted two local successes: work on the Spring Street development and a Czech company, identified in the presentation as GZ PrintPrak, which located in an industrial building off Louis Sorensen Road and "resulted in 40 new jobs," she said. She also summarized the Biz Starts entrepreneurship program — a three-stage cohort that provides training, mentors and student consultants — and said seven participants from Mount Pleasant have been served so far.
On talent attraction, Millian said the county produced eight new social media reels and is positioning the area to draw young professionals; she described a new early-career hub developed after focus groups with college students. She said the RCEDC is asking the village for a 3% increase to its contract over the 2025 level and noted minor language adjustments to the contract following Committee of the Whole review.
Trustees praised the presentation and the RCEDC's focus on housing and youth engagement. Millian closed by thanking the board for the partnership and saying "economic development is definitely a team sport" that requires many partners.
The board did not take a formal vote on the contract increase during the meeting; Millian said the contract language changes had been discussed at Committee of the Whole meetings and the 3% request was presented to the board for consideration.
