TUE AM News: Talking Trade with Jackie Bojor of the FRD Center in Bucharest, Romania; WFBF knocking Evers veto on animal regulations bill

April 2, 2024

— In the latest edition of “Talking Trade,” Jackie Bojor of the FRD Center in Bucharest, Romania, discusses opportunities in the region for Midwest companies.

Bojor is the director of business development for the Factor Regional Development Center’ in Bucharest. The advisory firm offers consulting, market research and other services focused on entering new markets and mergers and acquisitions.

She notes Romania is seeing more activity from American businesses and specialists in clean energy, pointing to investments in small nuclear modular reactor development from an Oregon company called NuScale Power.

“As U.S. officials have recognized recently, Romania is a regional pillar of stability, energy security and economic development,” Bojor said, adding the country has a “very strong” industrial manufacturing sector that continues to grow.

American-made vehicles, aircraft, electrical machinery and equipment are among the most in-demand products in the Romanian market, she explained.

She also said Romania is looking to advance its agricultural industries with more digital technology.

“In terms of transport and infrastructure, there are billions of euros to be received from the European Union, and this will generate a lot of interest from foreign investors, from foreign manufacturers looking to expand their businesses into Romania,” she said.

The discussion also touches on potential stability concerns among U.S. companies related to Romania’s proximity to the war in Ukraine. Bojor says Romania is “quite safe” in terms of conflict exposure, noting the eastern European country has been a part of NATO for decades.

“Practically, we have very strong facilities and a strong presence of NATO members here,” she said. “This is a stable economy, a stable country, and we have seen actually quite a lot of interest from companies which had their operations in the past in Ukraine and also in Russia.”

Watch the show, and see the full list of Talking Trade episodes.

“Talking Trade” is now available in audio form on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Subscribe and find more episodes here.

— The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation says Gov. Tony Evers’ veto of a bill related to animal regulations “truly is a let down” for farmers in the state.

“This bill was supported by more than 15 respected agricultural groups in the state and we are extremely disappointed by the veto of this legislation,” WFBF President Brad Olson said in a statement.

The bill would have barred political subdivisions from enacting animal welfare standards that are tougher than those in state law, or from regulating animal medications or vaccinations that aren’t required or prohibited by state law, according to analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau. It would also have kept local governments from regulating certain animals that can be raised in specific areas zoned for agricultural use, among other provisions.

In his veto message, Evers said he objects to removing control of animal welfare standards from local authorities, also pointing to potential conflicts with existing animal welfare ordinances enacted by voters through ballot measures.

“This bill removes the ability for local residents in municipalities throughout the state to engage in self-government by passing local ordinances related to animal welfare in animal facilities,” he wrote, also referencing potential legal conflicts linked to the “broad language” included in the bill.

But Olson argues local governments lack the expertise to “override the professional judgment of farmers and veterinarians” on animal medications and welfare concerns.

“Laws in other states have restricted farmers in doing certain practices so this is a very serious threat to Wisconsin’s agricultural community,” he said. “These types of ordinances are harmful to farms of all sizes but especially damaging to smaller farms with less access to credit to pay for major renovations to facilities.”

See the WFBF release.

— Yellowstone Industrial Park in Marshfield has been certified by WEDC as ready for development, the agency announced.

As the 23rd member of the Certified in Wisconsin Program, the 123-acre area is a “prime development site,” according to Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes.

“Businesses and investors want certainty,” she said yesterday in a statement. “The Certified In Wisconsin Program offers businesses peace of mind because it ensures that an array of concerns have been evaluated and addressed, making sites ready for immediate development.”

The site had to undergo a number of studies including a wetlands report and reviews of potential endangered resources and historical factors. WEDC notes the designation shows site selectors and developers that the location is properly zoned and has access to transportation infrastructure and utilities.

Marshfield City Administrator Steve Barg says the WEDC certification is “a very significant step” in preparing the location for industrial tenants. Local officials are targeting companies working in wood products, metals manufacturing, agriculture, food and health services.

“Knowing that site selectors and developers will see this property as shovel-ready gives the city, along with its economic partners and consultants, a beneficial boost,” Berg said in the release.

Of the 23 sites certified since the program started in 2012, 15 are currently available. WEDC says 46 development projects are underway or completed on the certified locations, which are collectively adding about 3,500 jobs and generating more than $581 million in capital investment.

See the release, and find more info on all the certified sites.

— Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Keith Posley says he’s “100% unsure” why many in the business community oppose the district’s proposed $252 million referendum on Tuesday’s ballot.

“I have made myself very available to support and talk with them, to walk us through the numbers,” Posley said on WISN’s “UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics.

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce has spent more than $400,000 opposing the referendum. And Last week, the Greater Milwaukee Committee, which includes some 200 business and civic leaders, publicly voiced its opposition.

“I would just say we’re making progress in the wake of a pandemic and we are moving children every single day in the Milwaukee Public Schools,” Posley said. “None of us could imagine we were going to have a pandemic. Those are some of the things we are all dealing with — the rate of inflation.”

Posley said the money is needed to maintain services that were part of an approved $87 million referendum in 2020, including art, music, physical education classes, smaller class sizes, psychologists and social workers.

“We have to maintain that,” Posley said. “We went to our community for that support in 2020, and so, therefore, we are right now at a financial cliff, and so, therefore, you also have to look at the rate of inflation has not kept up with spending, and none of us could imagine there was going to be a world pandemic.”

Posley said if voters don’t approve the referendum Tuesday, it will result in cuts.

“We have prepared, and we have a referendum budget, a yes referendum budget and no referendum budget,” Posley said. “And in the no referendum budget, there’s major cuts.”

See more from the show.

Top headlines from the Health Care Report…

— The state’s Medicaid fund is still projected to finish the biennium with a surplus, though it’s less than previously expected.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

Sign up here.

— Next week’s Wisconsin Economic Forecast Luncheon will include a panel discussion on key issues for the state including the workforce, wages and prospects for growth.

The April 10 event in Madison, organized by the Wisconsin Bankers Association and WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com, will include a keynote address by Mark Eppli, director of the James A. Graaskamp Center for Real Estate at the UW-Madison Business School.

His remarks will be followed by a panel including Dale Knapp, of Forward Analytics, a division of the Wisconsin Counties Association; Romina Soria, a senior economist at the Wisconsin Department of Revenue; Mike Olson, president and CEO of the Bank of Brodhead; and Doug Nelson, regional president of Johnson Financial Group.

See more event details and register here.

Harley-Davidson reaches tentative agreement with its largest union in Wisconsin

UW-Madison, UW system propose six-week paid parental leave policies

TOPICS

AGRIBUSINESS

– Navigating carbon offsets and insets in dairy production

CONSTRUCTION

– 553-unit affordable housing projects underway in Madison

– Construction for $456 million Baird Center expansion reaches ‘substantial completion’

ECONOMY

– SBA fuels new women’s business center in northern Wisconsin

– Communities with a closed UW branch campus can get up to $2 million for redevelopment