— Wisconsin’s Creative Economy Coalition today is officially launching its campaign to secure greater state support for the arts.
The coalition, made up of dozens of member groups, is urging Republican lawmakers to provide $100 million in one-time funding for the Wisconsin Artistic Endowment Foundation in the coming biennial state budget. While the coalition doesn’t specify the source for the proposed funding, its release does mention Wisconsin’s projected $7.1 billion surplus.
According to an email from the coalition, interest earnings from these funds would be used to support the arts in Wisconsin through the foundation and the Wisconsin Arts Board.
Create Wisconsin Executive Director Anne Katz notes the state’s creative sector contributes $10.8 billion to Wisconsin’s economy per year and supports 90,000 workers. But she adds Wisconsin ranks last among U.S. states for per-capita funding for culture and the arts, pointing to U.S. Department of Commerce figures.
And Patrick Rath, president of the United Performing Arts Fund in southeastern Wisconsin, says places like Eau Claire, Appleton, Racine, Madison and Milwaukee are being “transformed” at the community level by local cultural organizations.
“The future for these organizations continues to be fragile as private funding alone cannot keep up with rising costs,” Rath said in a statement. “If we want these and all of Wisconsin’s creative hubs to be vibrant and here for future generations, investment needs to be made now before arts sector talent leaves our state.”
Meanwhile, the group is also urging legislators to boost funding for the Wisconsin Arts Board by $552,500 over the biennium to “maximize the drawdown of available federal funds” and continue support for the industry. According to the email, these dollars would help the board meet its required state funding match for its National Endowment for the Arts grant in the coming years without needing to make a request of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee.
The coalition argues this change would result in a “much cleaner, smoother and cost-efficient process.”
Plus, the coalition wants the budget to include a Rural Creative Economy Development Grant Program, which would “support Wisconsin’s unique rural cultural and artistic assets, bolster state and local efforts to incubate, attract and retain talent,” among other impacts.
See the full list of members here:
See more on the coalition: https://wisconsincreates.com/
— Gov. Tony Evers has signed an executive order to create a commission to advise on creating Wisconsin’s first “green bank.”
The commission would advise on creating a fund to leverage private and public dollars in order to invest in clean and sustainable energy options for Wisconsinites. The Green Innovation Fund would also focus on funding clean energy solutions that reduce energy costs for families.
Evers in a statement said the moves will help Wisconsin leverage federal Inflation Reduction Act funds and “will establish Wisconsin as a leader in innovative technology and clean energy.”
“This Commission is an important step forward in doing that and to ensuring this Fund is successful in building a sustainable, clean energy economy for the future,” he added.
See Evers’ release:
— Attorney General Josh Kaul is urging federal officials to reexamine Energizer’s $1.9 billion acquisition of Spectrum Brands’ global batteries and lighting business from 2018.
In a release yesterday, Kaul argued the Federal Trade Commission’s “cursory look” at the acquisition needs to be reviewed.
“I am deeply concerned that this transaction has resulted in increased prices for consumers and the loss of family-supporting union jobs in Wisconsin,” he said.
The state Department of Justice release notes Missouri-based Energizer’s post-acquisition market share was estimated at 40 percent of the entire U.S. battery market and 60 percent of the global hearing aid battery market.
In a letter to the FTC, Kaul calls those figures “startling.” He says the agency’s decision not to make a second request for information after the companies initially announced the purchase “is reason enough” to take a closer look at the deal. Kaul also said the state DOJ is ready to help with the review if the FTC agrees to do so.
The Dem AG’s letter comes after Madison Dem. U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin also sent a letter to the FTC calling for an investigation into the acquisition, the release shows.
A spokesperson for Energizer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
See Kaul’s letter: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/sites/default/files/news-media/4.18.23_Energizer_Letter.pdf
See the release: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/ag-kaul-issues-letter-to-ftc-requesting-review-of-energizer-acquisition-of-spectrum-brands-batteries-business
— City officials in Milwaukee have launched a new initiative that aims to repurpose dozens of foreclosed residential properties.
Yesterday marked the start of the Homes MKE program, which will renovate up to 150 currently vacant houses across 23 neighborhoods in Milwaukee, according to a release. City leaders in 2021 allocated $15 million in ARPA funding to Milwaukee’s Department of City Development for the effort.
The department will be working with Milwaukee Common Council, developers and nonprofits to achieve the program’s goals. Along with selling, renovating and reoccupying the homes, the effort will prioritize expanding homeownership for city residents, boosting construction and job opportunities and supporting emerging developers in the area.
“Together, we are building stronger neighborhoods, promoting homeownership, and working to ensure every Milwaukeean has access to the quality, affordable housing they need,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a statement.
See program details here: https://city.milwaukee.gov/DCD/NIDC/Homes-MKE
— The Assembly Labor and Integrated Employment Committee has approved 5-3 a bill that would make a series of changes to the unemployment insurance program.
Some changes include renaming the program “reemployment assistance,” requiring the Department of Workforce Development to establish a Division of Reemployment Assistance and adding work search requirements.
Rep. Francesca Hong during yesterday’s executive session argued AB 150 would create additional administrative burdens for employers and the Department of Workforce Development, which she said has implemented programs seeking to boost the workforce.
“To obstruct and interrupt those programs right now I think would be an incredible burden and an unnecessary step when we could be doing so much more to help both employers and employees in the state,” the Madison Dem said.
Bill author Rep. Warren Petryk was not present for the vote, and no Republicans spoke on the bill during the meeting. The Town of Washington Republican’s office said Petryk wasn’t able to make it because he had a previously scheduled meeting in his district.
See the bill: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2023/related/proposals/ab150
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report …</b></i>
— A GOP-run Assembly committee has approved 11-5 along party lines a bill to bar the Department of Health Services from automatically renewing BadgerCare Plus program eligibility.
Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Hospital Association held its first in-person Advocacy Day event since the start of the pandemic, focused on how hospitals strengthen communities in the state.
And GOP U.S. Reps. Scott Fitzgerald, of Juneau, and Glenn Grothman, of Glenbeulah, are the only Wisconsin members to sign onto a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to allow a Texas decision overturning the FDA’s 2000 approval of an abortion drug to take effect.
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#TOP STORIES#
# Microsoft agrees to buy $50m Foxconn parcel in Wisconsin
# From dairy pricing to private well testing, Wisconsin farmers, lawmakers have eye on next farm bill
# How to ‘buy nothing’ and join Madison’s sharing economy
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Agronomist predicts minimal damage to planted crops despite cold wave in Wisconsin
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=432&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Milwaukee approves first-of-its-kind hotel construction for Brady Street
– Corporate Contractors showcases mass timber building construction in Delafield
# EDUCATION
– Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy Farm inspires next generation of agriculture leaders
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=434&yr=2023
– Mequon business owner planning private high school based on Hillsdale College curriculum
– Eric Holder chosen as UW-Madison commencement speaker
– Prominent Milwaukee nonprofit exec named next president of Alverno College
# ENTERTAINMENT
– Milwaukee-based EVEN Labs is shifting the power balance in the entertainment industry
# ENVIRONMENT
– Local regulations prove effective in reducing pollution
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=433&yr=2023
# FOXCONN REPORTS
– Microsoft enters deal to by $50 million Foxconn parcel in Wisconsin
# HEALTH CARE
– Top UW orthopedic surgeon joins group that left SSM Health
– Surgeon’s experience with wife’s Parkinson’s evolved into center that teaches brain health
# MANAGEMENT
– Emem Group selects Montavius Jones as development manager
# MANUFACTURING
– MobCraft moves forward with two planned locations: Beer Biz MKE
# REAL ESTATE
– What’s happening at the Humana campus in De Pere? Housing, housing and more housing.
# REGULATION
– Wisconsin Assembly approves bills that would prevent state, local bans of gas-powered cars
# RETAIL
– Hendricks buys Delafield retail buildings for $17.3 million
# TECHNOLOGY
– Microsoft agreements for $1 billion data center receive Racine County approval
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Wisconsin Hospital Association: WHA Advocacy Day brings in nearly 1,000 participants
Dairyland Power Cooperative: Expands support of regional pollinator habitat
