A Racine County company will be expanding to create 469 jobs over the next four years. Christopher Ruud, Ruud Lighting Company President, says their 208,000 square foot expansion project is the result of changes in the lighting industry from florescent bulbs, containing mercury, and incandescent bulbs; been around since Thomas Edison.
“Lighting is the last remaining vacuum tube technology that has not been completely replaced by solid state,” says Ruud. “But we’re working on changing that.”
Chuck Swoboda, Chairman & CEO of Ruud’s parent company, Cree Lighting, says local collaboration made this project happen which “is a lot of fun.
Ruud Lighting is getting $8 million in funding & incentives from the state and local governments for the expansion. Governor Walker was on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at the Sturtevant facility.
Tom Karkow-WRJN
