A tax break given to a local company will allow them to hire more people over the next three years.

Wiscon Products, Inc., 5022 Douglas Ave., received $70,000 in tax credits from the Economic Development Tax Credit Program from the Department of Commerce to expand its operations. The company will invest $1.1 million to purchase equipment, which will in turn create 18 jobs over the next three years.

The company specializes in precision turn technology and has been in Caledonia since 1957. Prior to that the company was housed in Racine. They are celebrating their 65^th year in business.

Caledonia Board members, officials with Racine County and officials with the Racine County Economic Development Coporation honored the company during a board meeting. Wiscon's president, Torben Christensen, thanked the village board, the county and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

"Not only is our business in Caledonia, but I was born and raised here," Christensen said. "Me and my wife, Amy, we chose to raise our family here as well."

Christensen said he was happy to see the state supporting new and existing businesses.

"I don't like to think of us as creating manufacturing jobs, I really think this is a term that gets thrown out there generically," Christensen said. "Anybody that is creating a job that doesn't involve a desk and computers is said to be creating a manufacturing job…for a company like ours its kind of a kick in the butt.

"I like to call what we're doing advanced manufacturing…. and we're not just creating jobs, we're creating good jobs that are careers."

Julie Anderson, Racine County planning and development director, highlighted those advancements in a presentation she gave to the village board.

"One thing they've done through the years is use interesting technology and innovation," Anderson said. "Just recently they started taking their profits and invested in better technology and better ways to increase their efficiency."

The company jumped into the world of CNC a few years ago. With the new CNC machines the company runs, they went from spending 3.5 minutes per piece to 36 seconds per piece.

"What they were able to do through technology, innovation and investment increased the efficiency of their operation and they are getting more business and they are increasing their employees," Anderson said.

This helped the company gain tax credits through the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

"And we congratulate them on their success," Anderson said. "It's nice to be able to come before you with some success stories during these difficult times."