Walker Administration Focusing on Economic Development

Gov. Walker has indicated that workforce issues will be a priority for the upcoming legislative session, and there are several stakeholder groups holding ongoing meetings to offer suggestions and solutions to this important, yet challenging policy area.

“Be Bold 2: Growing Wisconsin’s Talent Pool” Study Released

Coming on the heels of the release of Tim Sullivan’s The Road Ahead: Restoring Wisconsin’s Workforce Development report, is a new report from Competitive Wisconsin, Inc. (CWI) titled Be Bold 2: Growing Wisconsin’s Talent Pool.

Be Bold 2 is a follow-up to the successful Be Bold Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Competitiveness Study from 2010 that inspired much of the economic development legislation of the past session, including the transformation of the Dept. of Commerce to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

The new study underscores the need for immediate action on three strategic fronts including energizing the links between economic development and workforce/talent development; revolutionizing and leveraging the collection of, and access to, real-time information about jobs, skill requirements, career pathways and economic outcomes; and mobilizing talent development and acquisition abilities in support of Wisconsin employers and promoting our successes to attract talent and job creators to the state.

Promoting Job Growth “In Wisconsin”

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), a public-private authority tasked with creating jobs in the state, has launched a new branding campaign called “In Wisconsin.” The campaign promotes assets that make Wisconsin a premier state to start, expand or locate a business.

The new marketing campaign features Organic Valley in La Farge, the nation’s largest organic dairy farmer cooperative; Rockwell Automation in Milwaukee, a global leader in the advancement of smart manufacturing; Schneider National in Green Bay, one of the world’s largest transportation and logistics companies; Trek in Waterloo, world-renowned manufacturer of bicycles and related products; and Virent in Madison , a company using naturally-occurring renewable resources to replace crude oil.

Additional information on the “In Wisconsin” program is available on the WEDC website.

Small Business Summit

Gov. Walker has announced the details of the second annual Governor’s Small Business Summit, which will be held in La Crosse on Nov. 8, 2012.

This summit will bring cabinet secretaries and state agencies together with small business owners, entrepreneurs and innovators to discuss topics of interest. A box lunch with Gov. Walker and Lt. Gov. Kleefisch will include an update on Wisconsin’s business climate and economy.
Additional information and registration is available on the WHEDA website.