STEVENS POINT (WAOW) -
A Stevens Point company says hundreds of jobs could leave Wisconsin, after it lost out on a statewide contract.
Skyward was one of five companies bidding to provide a student database system to schools. But state officials say a Minnesota based company was the better choice.
Now, Skyward says it might leave the state.
Last year, Wisconsin opened up bids for companies to create a student information system. Skyward jumped in, along with others.
But then, word came that Skyward had been promised tax credits if it won the bid, so the state restarted the bid process.
Now, months later, there's a winner, but it's not Skyward.
State officials want to award the contract to company called Infinite Campus.
"It has taken us since 1980 to build our business in Wisconsin, basically going to be cut out from under us with the DOA and DPI selection of the Minnesota firm," Skyward CEO Cliff King told Newsline 9.
Leaders at Skyward say they're upset with the news. So much, they say they may even leave Wisconsin, taking hundreds of jobs with them.
"We're not going to make any capital investment in a state where we can't sell our product. It just doesn't make any sense," King said.
The state defends the bid process and the winner.
"Each vendor had the opportunity to fully compete for the contract. We understand how disappointing it can be for a vendor not to get a contract, but we are very confident that the process was fair, it was open and it was transparent," DOA Spokesperson Stephanie Marquis said.
But before Skyward makes a decision about staying or going, leaders say they plan to appeal. The Stevens Point mayor says he hopes the state will change its mind or at least include Skyward in the project.
"When there is a logical choice, that can work for both of these companies, and specifically skyward to keep them in Wisconsin," Stevens Point Mayor Andrew Halverson said.
State officials say no contract has been signed yet, but they are negotiating with the Minnesota firm.
All the companies, including Skyward, have until February 15th to appeal the decision.
