— The Wisconsin Technology Council’s board of directors is calling on state lawmakers to “fully authorize” a UW-Madison College of Engineering construction project.
In a memo delivered last week to all members of the state Legislature, the board members are urging action by this fall on the $347 million project. They wrote the effort is “vital to the entire state, especially its business and research communities, for many competitive reasons.”
Plus, they say up to $150 million in private funding pledges could be at risk if the project isn’t approved.
In early June, university leaders expressed frustration after the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee didn’t approve construction of the new engineering building for the second time in the biennial capital budget. UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin called it “a real tragedy” for the state, arguing the university will “continue to fall further behind” competitors in other states.
In last week’s memo, the Tech Council board echoed that concern.
“Academic competitors such as Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan and Illinois will continue to build whatever facilities are needed in the 21st century economy to accommodate talent from close to home and beyond,” board members wrote. “Companies large and small that are looking to relocate or expand will [be] tempted to scratch Wisconsin off their search lists.”
The board argues the new facility would support more undergraduate admissions to the engineering program, reinforce the state’s competitiveness in manufacturing through ongoing research, foster more innovations in human health through biomedical engineering, help address environmental challenges and more.
Plus, the memo emphasizes the importance of engineering programs for the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, noting about 60 technology-based startups have come out of the College of Engineering in the past 25 years.
“That many and more can be expected to add jobs and value to the economy in the years to come,” the board wrote.
See the university’s reaction to the JFC budget decision: https://news.wisc.edu/legislature-withholds-approval-for-new-uw-madison-engineering-building/
— Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson is touting the city as a welcoming environment for businesses looking to relocate or expand.
During a recent WisPolitics-Milwaukee Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon in Milwaukee, Johnson said his administration sees the value of expanding opportunities through industry for residents of the state’s largest city.
“For businesses that are out there, whether you’re in the city of Milwaukee and want to expand, whether you’re in the suburbs and want to move your locations into the city — which I think you all should — or whether you’re a business elsewhere in the country that’s looking for a new home, Milwaukee is here,” Johnson said last week, adding that “We’re an administration that wants to get to yes, working with our business community.”
Johnson praised businesses in the city for contributing to greater public safety by making Milwaukee more stable. He also noted business groups from other U.S. cities are visiting Milwaukee to “learn about how we are doing things,” pointing to Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City and Portland as examples.
“They want to see what the successes are in Milwaukee, because they want to replicate some of that stuff,” he said.
He underlined the importance of expanding both affordable housing and market-rate luxury apartments in the downtown area, as well as investing in “people-centered infrastructure” such as protected bike lanes, buses and more green spaces.
“It’s all of these things, collectively and together, that makes downtown a vibrant place where people want to work, but then also want to live,” he said.
When asked how to elevate areas of the city that haven’t seen as much investment, Johnson said parts of Milwaukee’s north side and south side “have so much potential.”
“I’ve always thought that Vilard Avenue on the north side could be Brady Street north, and Mitchell Street on the south side could be Brady Street south,” he said. “I think those streets have so much energy, so much potential for growth. And I want to see those streets and others live up to their full potential.”
Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tau-rKewI9Q
See more coverage at WisPolitics: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/milwaukee-mayor-johnson-has-strong-aversion-to-policy-provisions-targeting-city-in-shared-revenue-law/
— Attorney General Josh Kaul is urging a Calumet County judge to dismiss a lawsuit by the state’s largest business group targeting regulations of large farms, refuting claims they conflict with federal law.
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce filed the lawsuit in May on behalf of Venture Dairy Cooperative and Wisconsin Dairy Alliance, arguing the DNR can’t require concentrated animal feeding operations to acquire wastewater permits before they discharge a pollutant to navigable waters.
Environmental advocates say pollution from manure is a major cause of drinking water pollution. But Clean Wisconsin spokesperson Amy Barrilleaux told WisPolitics it could affect other areas, too.
“It is a significant threat to Wisconsin’s water resources, to public health, and to all the sectors of our economy — including tourism and agriculture — that rely on clean water. This lawsuit is legally wrong and environmentally destructive,” Barilleaux said.
The dairy groups’ argument relies on federal circuit court decisions in 2005 and 2011 finding the Environmental Protection Agency can’t require a CAFO to obtain a permit before it actually discharges to navigable waters. They argue DNR’s policy conflicts with federal law.
Venture Dairy Cooperative Executive Director Kim Bremmer told WisPolitics opponents are mischaracterizing the legal challenge. She said the group is simply asking DNR to follow the law and the state will still have regulations in place to protect water quality if the lawsuit is successful.
“And when you boil it all down at the end, whether you have a permit or not, if you pollute water, you’re held accountable, regardless of how many animals you have on your farm,” Bremmer said.
See more at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/230714report/#story-1
— Port officials in Green Bay are highlighting higher shipping totals so far this year.
They recently announced 664,196 tons of cargo have moved through the Port of Green Bay so far this year, marking a 10 percent increase over the same period of 2022.
Top import products for June included limestone, cement, salt, coal, petroleum products and wood pulp, according to a release.
“Because the Port is an economic indicator for NE Wisconsin, it’s good to see steady shipping numbers over the first few months,” Port Director Dean Haen said in a statement. “While we can’t predict what the rest of the season will bring, so far, we’re very pleased.“
See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/port-of-green-bay-june-tonnage-totals-remain-strong-for-port-of-green-bay/
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— ThedaCare has completed a new medical air transport installation as part of a $100 million overhaul of its Neenah facilities.
And state health officials announced the 988 Wisconsin Lifeline received 91,834 calls, texts and online chats in its first year of operation.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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#TOP STORIES#
# Northeast Wisconsin Technical College extends partnership with local shipbuilder to address skilled trade shortage
# NLRB finds merit in union’s charge that TruStage broke labor law
# Residents of PFAS-polluted island file $42.4 million in claims against Wisconsin city
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin announces new leadership for FY24
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=682&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Construction of affordable workforce housing units in Middleton begins
# EDUCATION
– Despite billions of dollars in federal education aid, students are behind in reading and math
# ENVIRONMENT
– EPA seeks input on next plan to guide restoration work across Great Lakes
# HEALTH CARE
– The FDA has approved an over-the-counter birth control pill. Here’s what it could mean for Wisconsin.
– Make abortion pill widely available, Wisconsin Dems urge FDA
# LEGAL
– Muskego man facing money laundering charge after illegally cashing checks
# MANUFACTURING
– Milwaukee touch-screen maker to hire, expand plant after sale to German firm
# MEDIA
– General manager Chuck Steinmetz retiring at Milwaukee’s Fox 6
# POLITICS
– Eau Claire considering wheel tax month after state shared revenue deal was signed
– Wisconsin’s licensing agency is getting a budget boost, but much less than the governor asked for
– Milwaukee Mayor Johnson signs 2% city sales tax legislation following lengthy negotiations
# REAL ESTATE
– Four ‘forever affordable’ homes completed on Milwaukee’s north side
– Kenosha County needs thousands of new housing units as it attracts massive commercial development along I-94
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 </i>
Dept. of Natural Resources: Sinkhole detected on Hank Aaron State Trail
