— Outdoor recreation in Wisconsin last year hit a new record high for economic impact, adding $9.8 billion to the state GDP.
State officials yesterday announced the latest U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis figures, showing a 6.8% increase in 2022 over the previous economic impact record from 2021. It’s the largest state impact since at least 2018, when the federal agency started releasing these figures, the release shows.
The combined impact of travel and tourism and local trips under 50 miles reached nearly $3 billion last year, according to yesterday’s announcement. Those figures increased 14.2% and 8.7%, respectively, over the year.
And Wisconsin’s motorcycling and ATV sector contributed more than $1 billion — more than any other state, the release shows.
Meanwhile, multi-use apparel and accessories hit $1.15 billion, boating and fishing reached $710 million and RVing hit $553 million.
“The outdoors is consistently cited as a top reason visitors choose Wisconsin, and that is a credit to our amazing natural places and our passionate destinations, guides, and outfitters who welcome travelers to experience all our state has to offer,” Department of Tourism Secretary Anne Sayers said in a statement.
Outdoor recreation made up 2.5% of state GDP in 2022, which was 0.1% higher over the year. The industry supported 94,042 jobs, which is 4.8% more than in 2021, making up 3.1% of total state employment. And the sector’s employee compensation reached $4.7 billion in 2022, for an increase of 5.3%.
See the release: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/37d6a56
— The Milwaukee School of Engineering is graduating up to 100 students with a background in AI per year as the school seeks to bolster the state’s high-tech workforce.
Eric Baumgartner, executive vice president of academics at MSOE and a former NASA roboticist, spoke yesterday during a meeting of the Governor’s Task Force on Workforce and Artificial Intelligence in Milwaukee.
The school in 2018 launched its undergraduate computer science degree program, which is focused on AI and machine learning. That program has since grown to become the second-largest degree program at MSOE due to “tremendous” student interest, Baumgartner said.
“We like to claim we were first in the nation to do that … Our graduates come out having an understanding and knowledge of and capabilities of implementing AI in their jobs,” he said.
The AI bachelor’s degree program has between 350 and 400 students per year, he added. That results in up to 100 graduates per year in this specialization.
Along with the undergraduate focus, MSOE also offers AI programs up to the master’s degree level. Of the school’s 22 software engineering and computer science faculty, about half have specific expertise in AI and machine learning, Baumgartner said.
“They could go anywhere and frankly make a lot more money than they can make at MSOE,” he said. “But they choose to come to MSOE to educate our students and create that next generation of AI-ready workforce. We’re really pleased about that.”
He also noted local corporate partners including Direct Supply, Generac and Milwaukee Tool have been sending their employees to MSOE’s graduate programs.
“So you don’t see represented there small, medium-sized manufacturers, for example,” he said. “They’ve largely been missing from these educational programs.”
Find the full task force meeting video at WisconsinEye: https://wiseye.org/
See more coverage of the task force: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/evers-task-force-on-workforce-ai-holds-first-meeting/
— In the latest episode of “WisBusiness.com: The Show,” Dervis Gursoy of Spraycision talks about his precision agriculture company and the problems it can solve for fruit, nut and citrus growers.
Madison-based Spraycision was one of the presenting companies at the recent Early Stage Symposium, an annual event hosted by the Wisconsin Technology Council in early November.
“We designed a sensor system that detects the tree, and only actuates the nozzles when there’s a tree, and shuts down the rest,” Gursoy said. “So it saves you chemical, water and not to mention it’s eco-friendly.”
The technology was designed as a “plug-and-play” system to require less maintenance and work by the farmers that use it, he said.
The show also highlights recent and upcoming events from the Tech Council.
Watch the latest show here: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/wisbusiness-com-the-show-with-spraycision-founder-dervis-gursoy/
See coverage from the ESS: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/investor-panel-discusses-funding-landscape-offers-advice-to-startup-leaders/
— Wisconsin and Minnesota are seeking funds from a second pot of federal money to cover more than half of the cost to replace a bridge between the two states.
The two yesterday announced they are seeking funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bridge Investment Program to replace the aging John A. Blatnik Bridge between Superior and Duluth. That comes after they applied for a grant from the federal agency’s Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant program in August.
Combined, the states are seeking just over $1 billion in federal money after each committed $400 million toward the project’s cost. Both federal programs are part of the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Last year, they applied for $883 million from the federal government for the project, but it was denied. The Evers administration said the states took feedback from that process to improve the latest applications.
See the release: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/gov-evers-gov-walz-seek-second-federal-grant-to-replace-critical-superior-duluth-bridge/
— GOP lawmakers are circulating a bill that would allow certain out-of-state health care providers to offer telehealth in Wisconsin.
Sen. Rob Stafsholt of New Richmond and Rep. Nate Gustafson of Neenah on Friday sent a co-sponsorship memo for the legislation to other state lawmakers.
Under the bill, the state Department of Safety and Professional Services and other credentialing boards would be required to register out-of-state care providers as telehealth providers in Wisconsin if they meet certain criteria. These include having a relevant credential issued by another state and a “clean” disciplinary record.
DSPS would also be required to publish online a list of all providers registered to offer telehealth services under the bill, including their names, health care occupations, training and education, license from another state, disciplinary history and medical malpractice insurance policy information.
The legislation includes other provisions covering disciplinary penalties for failures to abide by state law related to in-state telehealth, malpractice liability insurance requirements and more.
The co-sponsorship deadline is noon Friday.
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#TOP STORIES#
# Dane, Milwaukee counties stop making unwed fathers pay for Medicaid birth costs
# As Baby Boomers age, Northeastern Wisconsin families remodel homes
# As some businesses go cashless, the Legislature could push back
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Gary Tauchen, agriculture distinguished service awardee
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1051&yr=2023
– Kaitlyn Kesler wins outstanding ag professional award in WI
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1050&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– Potawatomi kicks off Greeneway project in Kenosha County
– Oliver Construction Co. will build new Generac facility in Beaver Dam
# ECONOMY
– Business incubator works to connect Driftless Area entrepreneurs
# EDUCATION
– Rocketship Wisconsin gets $2.5 million grant
# ENVIRONMENT
– Wisconsin NRCS helps celebrate 10 years of locally led watershed conservation
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1048&yr=2023
– Hundreds of invasive carp caught near Trempealeau
# FINANCIAL SERVICES
– Charles Schwab closes longtime downtown Milwaukee branch
# HEALTH CARE
– HIV cases are rising in Wisconsin, but those with the disease are living longer, healthier lives
– Milwaukee bar owner stuck in home for 11 days waiting for repairs to wheelchair lift
– ProHealth Care CEO discusses why 835 employees will shift to UnitedHealth subsidiary
# MANUFACTURING
– Generac invests in Spanish manufacturer of EV and smart charging systems
# MEDIA
– Milwaukee-based Hal Leonard sold to firm from Cyprus
# REAL ESTATE
– Milwaukee philanthropists buy second University Club condo, plan to combine units
– Affordable housing project planned for Milwaukee’s north side
# SPORTS
– Following hockey player’s death, more professional, college players in Wisconsin are now wearing neck protection
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Healthy Climate Wisconsin: Leaders applaud the EPA’s new safeguards to slash methane pollution
Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association: WisDOT earns award from asphalt industry
