Thursday, August 6, 2026
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Thursday, July 23, 2026
Sunday, July 19, 2026
Friday, July 10, 2026
Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Friday, June 26, 2026
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Microsoft completes construction on first Mount Pleasant data center
Holly Gilvary
MOUNT PLEASANT — After two years, construction of Microsoft's first data center in Mount Pleasant is complete.
Microsoft said Tuesday that the facility is fully operational. The plan for the facility was first announced in May 2024.
Almost 10,000 construction crew members worked on the facility and there are currently almost 550 full-time employees on-site. Microsoft said the company and its contractors are actively hiring and expect this number will continue to grow.
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said Wisconsin is now home to the "world's most powerful supercomputer."
"This campus will help power the next generation of AI innovation globally and provide long-term economic opportunity locally through hundreds of highly skilled jobs and continued investment in the region," Smith said in a news release.
Mount Pleasant Village President David DeGroot called the facility's completion "a historic milestone for Mount Pleasant and all of Racine County as we become home to one of the most advanced technology campuses in the world."
"Microsoft's decision to invest here elevates our community into a destination for innovation and advancement," DeGroot said in the release. "As this campus continues to grow, it will create lasting opportunities for residents, strengthen our regional economy and help position Wisconsin for long-term success."
Microsoft estimates the company will have spent $4.7 billion between 2024-28 locally on hyperscale construction in Wisconsin. It has directly purchased from 29 businesses across 11 Wisconsin counties, rippling across many more local companies through supplier networks, subcontracting, logistics and related services needs, according to Microsoft.
Direct purchases include construction suppliers in Racine County, contractors and steel fabricators in Outagamie and Marathon counties, electrical equipment manufacturers in Rock and Columbia counties, and machinery manufacturers in La Crosse County.
Construction of Microsoft's second facility in Mount Pleasant, which is immediately adjacent to the first, is ongoing. Current work includes foundation installation, steel erection and underground utility placement. This facility is scheduled to be completed in 2028.
When the second facility is fully operational, Microsoft expects the number of full-time employees in Mount Pleasant will grow to about 800.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Monday, May 25, 2026
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
RUSD workers demonstrate for wage increases in 2026-27
Ryan Patterson
 |
Kelly Miller was one of about 50 people who demonstrated in demand of better pay Monday at the Racine Unified School District administrative service campus. |
RACINE — Educators demonstrated Monday to demand pay next school year that keeps up with the cost of living.
About 50 people from two unions made their presence felt with signs and chanting before the Racine Unified School District Board meeting.
Chants included “Pay us or lose us,” “Educators deserve a living wage” and “Retain, don’t retrain.”
 |
Dulce Cervantes, from right, Dawn Glasier and Amanda Schwartz were some of the teachers who demonstrated Monday at the Racine Unified School District administrative service campus, 3109 Mt. Pleasant St. |
Members of Racine Educators United, the union representing RUSD instructors, and Service Employees International Union Wisconsin, the union representing RUSD building service employees such as custodians, maintenance workers and engineers, want base wage increases of 2.63% next school year to keep pace with rising costs.
According to the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, 2.63% is the applicable inflation rate for one-year collective bargaining agreements that begin July 1, which is when the REU and SEIU deals will start.
That inflation rate is also known as a cost of living adjustment, or COLA.
Teachers also want a salary step increase in 2026-27. The step increase, also called a rung, is based on educators’ years of service.
Educators believe that keeping experienced workers helps students and is less costly for the school district than hiring and training new employees.
 |
Spencer Carlson, from right, Maddie Kelly and Christie Bartow were three of the teachers who demonstrated in demand of better pay Monday at the Racine Unified School District administrative service campus. |
“We know these are tough economic times, but we have faith that the board and the administration recognize the value of front-line workers that keep the district running and that they’ll honor all of our hard work with COLA and a step,” said REU President Angelina Cruz.
RUSD and the unions have not yet exchanged base wage proposals.
The school board met in executive session Monday to discuss base wage negotiations, according to the meeting agenda, but did not vote on anything.
The school district and two unions are scheduling the date of the initial exchange.
 |
Mike Bellagio, Racine Unified School District Board member, right, talks with employees demonstrating for better pay Monday at the RUSD administrative service campus. |
Base wage agreements require approval from the RUSD Board.
Board President Jane Barbian wrote in an email that the board is “always looking for ways to recruit and retain high quality staff for our schools.”
“This means being as competitive as possible in our wage negotiations, and as our budget allows,” Barbian wrote “We understand that a quality workforce is needed to drive the district initiatives.”
RUSD educators and building service employees received 2.95% base wage increases this school year, 2% raises in 2024-25 and 8% increases in 2023-24.
 |
| demonstrated Monday to demand better pay next school year. |
Union members will likely demonstrate at the school board’s June 1 work session and June 15 business meeting if a deal is not reached by those dates.
“We’ll be back!” employees chanted while leaving.
Recent stories by Racine Journal Times reporter Ryan Patterson
Friday, May 8, 2026
Microsoft's Mount Pleasant data center employs 375 people
Ricardo Torres
More than 375 people are working at Microsoft's Mount Pleasant data center, a company executive says.
Bowen Wallace, corporate vice president for Microsoft, gave an update on the project to the Racine County Economic Development Corp. on May 7 at its "Impact 2026" event in Racine.
"We've hired over 375 full-time Microsoft employees," Wallace said. This includes workers who deploy network server devices, operate and maintain electrical and plumbing control systems.
Microsoft is nearing the full completion of its first data center in Mount Pleasant and the company plans to have roughly 500 workers at that facility when it's completed.
A second data center is currently under construction, which Wallace said, at its peak, will have roughly 3,000 construction jobs.
Microsoft is planning to add 15 more data centers to its property in Mount Pleasant during the next decade.
Wallace called the Racine County project the "absolutely flagship supercomputer in Microsoft's portfolio."
"When this project started back in 2023, it went from an idea to construction start faster than any project in our portfolio had ever done before and ever done since," Wallace said.
Posts
