Guest Column: State Assembly Takes Action on Key Economic Development Legislation
Last week (on June 24) the Assembly met in floor session to debate and vote on a wide range of
Rep. Dave Armstrong debates legislation on the Assembly floor.
legislation, including proposals to encourage nuclear energy and a bill to provide training stipends for volunteer firefighters. I am also happy to report that during this recent floor session the following two bills I authored were passed by the full Assembly:
Assembly Bill 279 creates a grant program under the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for communities to establish talent recruitment programs. Wisconsin already has a workforce shortage, and our population is not only aging, but it’s also projected to shrink by almost 200,000 over the next few decades. To counteract these demographic changes, Wisconsin needs to, among other things, encourage people to move here. Grants under AB 279 will help communities to market themselves and to provide incentives to interested households. AB 279 passed on a voice vote.
Assembly Bill 63 makes several updates to the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority. WHEFA, which has bonding authority and isn’t funded with tax dollars, provides capital financing assistance to nonprofit organizations. AB 63 allows WHEFA to finance working capital (operational costs) as well as capital projects. AB 63 also allows it to finance out-of-state projects as long as the nonprofit has a Wisconsin presence. AB 63 passed 96-1!
Both AB 63 and AB 279 will go to the Senate for further consideration. Like several other bills on the June 24 calendar, the AB 279 grant program is funded through the state budget.
