Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/533571
34 | I NSIGH T • J u l y 2 0 15 I N S I G H T O N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T B y S e a n P. J o h n s o n W hat a difference a few years makes. As the Great Recession first tightened its grip on the regional economy in 2009, the greater Fond du Lac area found itself wrestling with some ugly economic realities. Mercury Marine, a key pillar of the regional economy, was seeking wage concessions and other economic assistance in an effort to remain viable as economic shocks pummeled its sales. e company had a standing offer from Oklahoma to relocate its operations to that state, and the debate sharply divided the community. For a few dark hours, the company was set to move, taking thousands of jobs out of the regional economy — both directly and indirectly — as workers le and suppliers either followed on or closed up shop entirely. Fast forward a few years and it all seems like a bad dream. A last-minute counter-offer from the unions and the community provided the incentives Mercury Full speed ahead Fond du Lac County accelerates past obstacles on the road to growth Marine needed — including money from a half-cent sales tax for economic development - to adjust its business model and emerge from the economic turmoil stronger and more innovative. Both Mercury Marine and Fond du Lac have been running full speed ahead since. "If they had gone away, it would have taken this region years to recover," says Steve Jenkins, president of the Fond du Lac County Economic Development Corp. "But since then, they have invested more than half a billion dollars in improvements and we continue to see growth and ripple effect you get from that success." In late May, the marine propulsion manufacturer announced plans for a 45,000-square-foot expansion to its global headquarters in Fond du Lac. Construction is expected to be completed in January, with the facilities fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2016. e company now employs more than 5,000 people worldwide, with more than 2,800 based in Fond du Lac. Growth adding to those numbers is a welcome sign. "We remain committed to Fond du Lac and the state of Wisconsin and will continue to expand and create jobs not only in Wisconsin, but around the world," says John Pfeifer, president of Mercury Marine. "is expansion will not only create jobs, but it will improve our flexibility and quality, and improve the environment." It's the latest in a series of economic successes and milestones for the C O U R T E S Y O F M E R C U R Y M A R I N E A Mercury Marine outboard motor moves down the final stretch of the assembly line at the company's global headquarters in Fond du Lac. The company recently announced a 45,000-square-foot expansion.