People in Racine say they need more jobs, and Foxconn has them

An announcement made Wednesday of Foxconn's plans to build a $10 billion plant somewhere in southeastern Wisconsin would be a huge boost to whichever city it comes to.

No site has been chosen, but areas of Racine and Kenosha counties remain in play and were early favorites in talks regarding where the plant would be. 

Racine County, located between Milwaukee and Kenosha, seems to be doing well economically with an unemployment rate of 3.4%, but people who live in Racine are hoping for more jobs still. 

"Racine definitely needs more jobs," Steve Rodgers said at a bar named Scores in Racine. "There are jobs to the north of us in Milwaukee, and to the south of us with the Amazon plant in Kenosha, and people are moving out of Racine because there are no jobs here." 

People around Racine on Wednesday were discussing what it would mean for the area if the Taiwanese-based plant that makes liquid crystal display (LCD) screens would locate there.

More:Foxconn deal: $10 billion investment, up to 13,000 jobs

"I think it's a good idea as long as the jobs are decent paying," said Nick Savasta, who works in a factory in the area. 

He said he would not look into working at Foxconn because he has been at his current job for so long.

"But I'm more for it," he said. "It would bring more people to the city, which will help because then we would have more shops and coffee places, stuff like that all around." 

Not only would the plant be an economic attraction, but the factory project would also involve a virtual village, with housing, stores and service businesses spread over at least 1,000 acres, a source told the Journal Sentinel. 

More:8 fast facts on Foxconn's planned $10 billion investment in Wisconsin

"If they do come it would be a big boost here, which used to be a big manufacturing jobs area," said Roy Scheller, who was enjoying coffee at Divino Gelato Cafe in Racine. 

Scheller, who will be 91 years old next month, has lived in Racine his entire life. 

"I worked in factories when I wasn't deployed in war," he said. "But now factories are mostly gone. The rubber factory, Hamilton Beach, those have all left." 

While the LCD screens that Foxconn produces are not that interesting to Scheller, who has never owned a computer, he hopes the impact on the economy will be a benefit overall.

"It would be nice if they do come here because people would like it and have a job, but I wouldn't know if (potential factory workers) are going to get big bucks or not," he said. 

Foxconn said they will initially employ 3,000 workers making an average of $53,900 a year plus benefits, the Journal Sentinel reported earlier Wednesday. Eventually, Foxconn could employ up to 13,000 workers and an estimated 10,000 workers are needed for the plant construction.