With Foxconn on the way, Racine County racing to build housing for thousands of potential residents

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- With Foxconn on the way, Racine County is now racing to build housing for potentially thousands of new residents.

Foxconn could bring with it more than 10,000 jobs which means a whole lot of new people in southeast Wisconsin.

The crucial challenge now for Racine County is getting those employees to live in Racine County.

There was a groundbreaking and all the ceremony that comes with that. Now, Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave says his work begins.

"If this was a baseball game, the National Anthem just got done," said Delagrave.

He says Racine County is planning to build several types of housing at reasonable prices to reverse the county's housing shortage.

"I want to be as greedy as possible and get as much housing done so we can get the most people living in Racine County," Delagrave said.

Foxconn workers living in the county means they'll be spending money in the county. That's music to the ears of Mayra Jaramillo.

"It's going to help us a lot, yes," said Jaramillo.

Jaramillo owns Castlewood Restaurant in Sturtevant and she can't wait for the potential customers.

"I'm sure for the people that live here, it's going to be a big change. For the businesses, I think it's going to be good," Jaramillo said.

To help lure people in, Delagrave is putting on the sell job, touting Racine's schools and amenities. First, has to come housing, however.

A presentation given to the Racine County Board this week estimated that more than 10,000 units are needed.

"We expect over the next five years, a significant increase in population so we want to be ready," said Delagrave. 

For guidance, Racine County is looking at existing housing in places like Oak Creek, Brookfield, and Sun Prairie.

They're also working with developers and banks to get these projects off the ground.