— Local leaders are pushing for a collaborative regional approach to economic development that supports rural communities across central Wisconsin.
“The more that we can be informed of what other communities are doing, what other counties are doing, the more we can regionally benefit from those efforts and aligning those returns on investment,” said Jenny Resch, executive director of economic engagement and strategic partnerships at UW-Stevens Point.
Resch spoke yesterday at an “action accelerator” event in Wausau hosted by Competitive Wisconsin and other partners at Northcentral Technical College. The gathering featured remarks from more than a dozen speakers representing local governments, chambers of commerce, trade associations and various businesses.
Angel Whitehead, president and CEO of the economic development group Centergy, underlined the importance of harnessing the “regional voice” to coordinate efforts. The group represents Lincoln, Marathon, Wood, Portage and Adams counties.
While Whitehead and others pointed to regional strengths such as high-quality education, outdoor recreation assets and a strong private sector, Wausau Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Eckmann noted central Wisconsin is “in a talent desert” with no large metropolitan areas nearby.
For the entire area to thrive, he said cities including Wausau, Merrill, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids need to unify to tackle workforce issues and other challenges. Aspirus Chief Strategy Officer James Matheson called for the creation of “core ambitious goals,” around which communities can focus their efforts.
Meanwhile, Competitive Wisconsin Strategic Counsel Jim Wood and Church Mutual Insurance Company executive Scott Steele agreed communities should focus talent attraction on areas outside of the region, to avoid stealing talent from one another. While local areas all have specific labor force needs, Steele argued for working together rather than competing for the already limited pool of talent.
“We’re just cannibalizing our communities. We’re just moving pawns from one to the other … We have to look at what our communities need, and what they can contribute to the greater whole,” he said.
Yesterday’s wide-ranging discussion touched on a number of key economic development resources such as broadband and transportation infrastructure, education, housing and child care.
Miron Construction Vice President of Business Development Paul LaPree talked about regional branding to emphasize innovative companies like Eastbay, as well as opportunities for skiing and kayaking in the area and for remaking Wausau’s downtown now that a mall has been razed and connecting it to the Wisconsin River. LaPree is also chairman of the board for the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce.
At the same time, he noted Wausau needs to create a lot more downtown housing to support talent attraction efforts and workforce development. Plus, he spotlighted the statewide child care shortage as an “enormous problem,” predicting more organizations will be offering child care as an employment benefit, much like health care.
Looking ahead, Whitehead noted Centergy is developing a regional brand for the five-county area called Central to Success.
“Stay tuned in the next four months, we’ll have a full marketing campaign that our investors will utilize, that we will be looking at recruitment and attraction of talent specifically to the central Wisconsin region,” she said.
Maysee Herr, CEO of the Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, provided insight on young professionals in the state’s Hmong community.
She said the people and families in Wisconsin are a major factor for those that stay, noting they’re invested in the communities where they live. But she added many often get passed over for positions in the state despite being qualified.
“If they choose to stay, they’re starting their own businesses, going into entrepreneurship … So then they create something that could potentially be in competition with people they could have worked for,” she said. “Or they’re choosing to move up to the Twin Cities, right, they’re moving somewhere bigger for more opportunities.”
See more on the downtown Wausau effort: https://www.greaterwausau.org/downtown-wausau/
— A package of bills aimed at addressing the state’s housing shortage is expected to clear both houses of the Legislature and go to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk.
That’s according to Wisconsin Realtors Association President and CEO Mike Theo, who gave an update on the legislative effort during yesterday’s Competitive Wisconsin event.
“In the state Senate and the state Assembly this Wednesday there’s a package of five bills that have made it through committees, they’re identical bills. I would guess that … all of those bills will pass both houses and probably make it on its way to the governor’s desk shortly, if the budget doesn’t get in the way,” Theo said.
He explained the bills generally seek to expedite the process of permitting new homes, get developments past local government regulations, provide financing support for certain projects, keep people and groups from blocking local development projects and more.
“Bits and pieces of this have been tried across the country to varying degrees of success, and I’m hoping that the opportunities that that legislation and the other bills provide will help kick start and start to address that supply shortage,” he said.
See more on the bills at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/tue-pm-update-kaul-former-gop-rival-toney-urge-lawmakers-to-invest-in-crime-lab
— GOP lawmakers are circulating a bill that would allow Superior to create an arena and convention center funded by a room tax of up to 2 percent.
Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Cameron, and Rep. Angie Sapik, R-Lake Nebagamon, say their bill aims to “spur economic development in one of the north’s most important cities.” They note a 2016 referendum found 75 percent of voters supported the initiative.
The center would be used for expositions, trade shows, music and dramatic performances, as well as commercial, cultural and sporting events.
“We are tired of seeing the tens of millions of dollars invested in the Twin Ports go mainly to the other side of the bridge,” the lawmakers wrote. “The local elected officials in Superior are working hard to make Superior better every day – please join us in ensuring Superior has the resources it needs to compete.”
Under the bill, the room tax would have to be approved through referendum.
The cosponsorship deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.
— Gov. Tony Evers has appointed Leslie Scavina to replace Paul Buhr as farmer member of the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.
Buhr, a dairy farmer, resigned in January after Evers appointed him to the state Natural Resources Board earlier that month.
Buhr and two other Evers appointees were blocked from serving on the WTCS Board until Dec. 29 last year, when three appointees by former GOP Gov. Scott Walker stepped down after staying on the board since their terms expired the year before.
The only remaining Walker appointee on the board is Vice President Mark Tyler, who was first appointed by former Dem Gov. Jim Doyle and reappointed by Evers and Walker.
Scavina owns Cyclon Rolling Acres based in Deer Park, where she raises grass-fed goats and sheep for their meat. She is also a member of the Northwood Technical College Farm Business Advisory Council and St. Croix County Farm Bureau board. Scavina was previously executive director of the Wisconsin Association of Agricultural Educators.
Scavina in a statement said the tech college system provides important training for the agricultural industry to meet workforce needs and to train the next generation of farmers.
“I’m looking forward to working alongside other board members to continue to address the needs of our technical college system and how we can support our local economies across Wisconsin,” Scavina said.
See the release:
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— State health officials have announced $5.1 million in grants aimed at boosting access to dental care in Wisconsin.
Meanwhile, UW Health is touting a prostate cancer treatment program launched last year as more accurate and less invasive than the traditional approach.
<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#
# Wisconsin has seen record-low employment for over a year. What does that mean for workers?
# Jack Daniels whiskey waste becomes natural gas thanks to Madison firm
# Wisconsin is considering changes to its alcohol industry. Here’s what this could mean for consumers, breweries, wineries, and more
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin announces 2023 Board of Directors: new leadership empowers dairy industry
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=585&yr=2023
– Wisconsin farmers forced to dump milk due to processing plant issues
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=583&yr=2023
– Wisconsin farmer works to save endangered cow breed
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=581&yr=2023
# EDUCATION
– Madison’s full-day 4k students had gains similar to half-day peers
– UW system hires new chief diversity officer amid GOP pushback against campus DEI offices
– Government funding plan includes largest expansion to private school choice in program’s history
# ENVIRONMENT
– raSmith’s Tippery honored with Central States Water Environment Association award
# MANUFACTURING
– Ariens Company eliminates shifts at hometown Wisconsin plant
# POLITICS
– With two-thirds council vote likely needed for Milwaukee sales tax, seven members slam state legislation
– If Milwaukee gets its own sales tax, it will get funding that cities across the nation have
# REAL ESTATE
– $24 million next phase of Jeffers’ Belle City Square launches with maker space, cafe
– Mandel plans 270 apartments in Oconomowoc ski hill redevelopment
# TECHNOLOGY
– Children with mobility needs get kids cars from Children’s Wisconsin, Fox Valley Tech
# TOURISM
– 4 northeastern Wisconsin counties rank in top 10 for tourism spending
– Wisconsin’s tourism thrives: record-breaking year showcases the state’s charms
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=584&yr=2023
# TRANSPORTATION
– Madison bus drivers anticipate chaos as Metro Transit starts new routes
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
WMC: Two minute drill: income tax cut would spur population & economic growth
Raising Wisconsin: Public opinion: child care needs Wisconsin state budget funding
