Thursday, March 17, 2011

Illinois Company To Open Shop In Pleasant Praire And 85 Employees Will Follow

Photo: Gov. Walker Twitpic

Governor Walker at a ceremony handed a $500,000 loan to Illinois company for moving into the state.

By H. Nelson Goodson
March 17, 2011

Pleasant Prairie, WI - On Thursday, Tim Roberts CEO of Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. joined Governor Scott Walker (R) in Pleasant Prairie to announced their move from Illinois to Wisconsin. Catalyst headquarters and their operations is expected to move into the state by early Summer.
Walker said, the company will occupy 144,000-square-foot facility and will invest about $2.5 million in Wisconsin. Catalyst received a $500,000 loan to relocate to the state and qualifies for an exemption from paying corporate and personal income taxes for two years. Companies who plan to relocate into the state will received the tax break, if they move 51% of their workforce or make more than $200,000 in wages, according to a state law that was passed in January.
The Kenosha Business Alliance announced it will provide Catalyst with a $1.2 million low-interest loan for the new facility reconstruction needs. Catalyst makes exhibits for trade shows and is currently based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. 
The move is expected to brings about 85 employees from Illinois and as the company expands would created about another 25 jobs for local residents, according to Roberts.
Roberts said, the company for about a year had been considering moving into the state and had been in contact with Kenosha County officials about a possible move. They finalized their decision to move into the state when Wisconsin Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefish called Roberts. Illinois had raised a 2% tax increase, pushing Catalyst out of state, according to Roberts.
Governor Walker later went to Stroughton and announced support for 478 jobs at Stoughton Trailers in Evansville, Stoughton, and Brodhead. The company will get a $750,000 loan from the state. Walker twitted, "we are helping Stoughton Trailers open the Evansville plant (302 new jobs) & add 176 new jobs @ Stoughton & Brodhead sites...BIG day for jobs in WI. More than 500 new jobs in Kenosha Co. & Rock Co. Not Rep. or Dem. jobs - WI jobs!"
Governor Walker continued to draw protesters where ever he speaks or shows up. The demonstrators were calling for his recall as a result of Walker's passage of eliminating collective bargaining for most state workers.

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