Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker displays an ‘Escape to Wisconsin’ bumper sticker, initially designed for vacationers, to attract businesses from Illinois (Fox News “Your World w/ Neil Cavuto).

Just over two months ago Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker encouraged Illinois businesses to escape from Illinois after lawmakers — earlier that day in an overnight session in Springfield — approved a 67 percent income tax increase and a 46 percent increase in corporate taxes.

Governor Walker said the tax news from Illinois, will make Wisconsin an enticing place to do business. He specifically targeted companies in Illinois on “Your World w/ Neil Cavuto” on Fox News, which was Governor Walker’s first television interview since his inauguration, the Republican governor jubilantly pulled out an old Wisconsin advertising campaign bumper sticker that targeted Illinois with an “Escape to Wisconsin” slogan. Walker says he is renewing that old call to vacationers for Illinois businesses.

Flash forward to today …

Governor Scott Walker announced Thursday that Catalyst Exhibits, Inc., a maker of large-scale exhibits at major trade shows, will be moving from Crystal Lake, Illinois, to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. also has offices in Amsterdam and Shanghai serving an impressive client list including Abbott, AstraZeneca, Belkin, BioRad, Carestream, Chicago Faucets, Nanosphere, Nokia, Siemens, St. Jude Medical, TiVo, Zimmer, Ziosoft, Zogenix and more.

Governor Walker says Catalyst Exhibits will employ 105 people and occupy a 144,000-square-foot facility. Walker says the company will invest $2.5 million in the state. Walker also says Catalyst Exhibits will receive a $500,000 state grant to relocate to Wisconsin. The Kenosha Area Business Alliance is providing a $1.25 million low interest loan for building renovations.

Siemens Trade Show Exhibit By Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. at RSNA 2010 /Radiological Society of North America (Website photo © 2011 Copyright Catalyst Exhibits).

The company builds products ranging from exhibit stands and retail displays to large spectacular displays with two floors the size of large luxury homes that are built inside trade show halls and expos — in locations such as McCormick Place.

Carestream Show Exhibit By Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. at RSNA 2010 /Radiological Society of North America (Website photo © 2011 Copyright Catalyst Exhibits).

Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. employs about eighty marketing professionals serving clients worldwide for their tradeshow marketing needs. Catalyst Exhibits, Inc. also employees designers, engineers, operations and setup personnel, fabricators, large scale graphics applicators, sales staff and administrative staff.

The governor says the company’s decision shows his efforts to make Wisconsin a more business-friendly place are paying off.

See also …
catalystexhibit.com

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