WEDA Wire – March 28, 2022

Message from the WEDA Board Chair: Donna Walker

One of the advantages of being the WEDA Board Chair is that it gives one a better perspective and appreciation of the field of economic development. Hearing from and visiting with the many wonderful Wisconsites who aggressively work daily to improve their local communities fills me with pride and joy. It reinforces why I choose to work in this field.

As an economic development practitioner, there are times that I too can get frustrated and overwhelmed navigating a project or policy through a complex process. As Board Chair, I am reminded that all economic development practitioners in the state need encouragement, support, and an association that is in their corner. You can rely upon WEDA to be that partner and supporter – it’s simply what we do.

WEDA absolutely provides the best networking opportunities in the state for our profession! For example, the February Governor’s Conference on Economic Development was designed to provide ample opportunities for attendees to reacquaint, renew, and rejuvenate with their peers. I want to thank WEDA for providing the “best in practice” training and networking events that keep us going. As we approach new challenges, I encourage everyone to leverage and utilize their WEDA membership to its fullest.

Keep going forward!

State of the Association: WEDA President and CEO Mary Perry

State of the Association: WEDA President and CEO Mary Perry

WEDA President and CEO Mary Perry

Spring is in the air! It is a time of year when we enjoy more daylight and warmth, and our senses come alive with the sights and sounds of Spring. There are many sounds that accompany this season, but in our profession, we love the sound of economic development: the roar of engines powering bulldozers, dump trucks, graders and cranes, and the rhythmic beat of the pile driving machines. We hope you are enjoying these sights and sounds of Spring in your communities!

WEDA has a lot in store for you this spring – and into summer and fall. So please SAVE THESE UPCOMING DATES:

April 20 – WEDA and Baker Tilly will team up to bring you a high impact webinar covering shelved projects that may now be financially feasible using Environmental Remediation Tax Incremental Districts (ERTIDs). Attendees will come away with understanding the new ERTID law which will provide communities with greater TIF flexibility and the ability to address the redevelopment of properties contaminated with hazardous material like asbestos and lead. Presenters will provide redevelopment scenarios where idle school and medical buildings are transformed into much needed workforce housing. Stay tuned for more information…

May 4 – The WEDA Academy brings you its latest educational offering: Exploring Opportunities in Freight Rail. Learn all about the industry as well as benefits and challenges associated with rail. As an added bonus, you will learn about potential funding resources to build your business expansion project budget.

May-June – WEDA will partner with WEDC to provide training to Wisconsin non-profit organizations that provide technical and financial assistance services to ethnic and diverse businesses.

June 2 – The FDIC and WEDA will team up with CRA Network lenders to bring you information on Community Reinvestment Act modernization and help clarify eligible activities. Examiners will be on board to answer questions about projects under consideration by communities.

August 3 – WEDA Placemaking Academy. SAVE THE DATE if you want to learn more about creating your quality place in your community.

September 12-15 – The Wisconsin Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC) comes to Pewaukee. Do you plan to pursue the IEDC Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) credential? If so, SAVE THESE DATES. The BEDC is designed to provide an understanding of the basic concepts, theories, methods, and practice of economic development and will be taught by leading economic development experts.

September 28-30 – Best Practices Conference will be held in La Crosse, WI this year – a location that continues to be one of our members’ favorite areas for a fall conference! We are also putting out an RFP for host cities for 2023 conferences. Furthermore, plans are underway for the annual Community and Economic Development Awards. This fall, the awards ceremony will take place as part of the Best Practices Conference. Your community may have the perfect project or program that should be highlighted and WEDA is thrilled to announce expanded categories so that all projects – big and small, urban and rural—can compete. The nomination period will open soon! Stay tuned…

Your continued support of WEDA during these trying times is extremely appreciated. With your support WEDA will continue to bring you effective legislative advocacy for economic development, CRA Network services, and exciting economic development education programming through the WEDA Academy.

If you’re not a WEDA member, why not? You’re certainly missing out. So act quickly and join TODAY, as membership rates will be increasing in the near future. Click here to investigate WEDA membership, or simply give me a call 414-699-3917.

SAVE THE DATE: April 20 Special Meeting of the WEDA Membership

The WEDA Board Chair, with the full support of the WEDA Board, has called a special meeting of the WEDA membership for Wednesday, April 20 at 9:00 A.M. The meeting is only open to WEDA members in good standing and will be held virtually.

The purpose of the special meeting is to consider and vote on the following proposed changes to the WEDA bylaws:

State and Officer Title Changes

Update references to WEDA staff and officer position titles throughout the bylaws to reflect the current titles in use, as follows: 1.) President and Chief Executive Officer; and 2.) Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Communications; 3.) Board Chair; 4.) Past-Board Chair; and 5.) Vice-Board Chair.

ARTICLE VII – DIRECTORS (Section 2 – Number, Tenure and Qualifications)
The President of the Wisconsin Economic Development Institute (WEDI), or his or her designee, shall serve as a director of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association.

The reason behind this proposed change to the bylaws is to better align WEDI with the goals and mission of WEDA and build greater collaboration between the two organizations.

ARTICLE VIII – OFFICERS:
The Immediate Past Board Chair of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, or his or her designee, shall serve as a director of the Wisconsin Economic Development Institute (WEDI).

The reason behind this proposed change to the bylaws is to better align WEDI with the goals and mission of WEDA and build greater collaboration between the two organizations.

ARTICLE VII – DIRECTORS (Section 2 – Number, Tenure and Qualifications):
Change the number of board directors from “eighteen (18) in number and shall include the officers of the corporation” to “at least nineteen (19) in number…”

The reason behind this proposed change to the bylaws is to account for the potential addition of the WEDI President to the WEDA Board, and to ensure we do not have an even number of directors on the board.

An official invite with a link to join the virtual special meeting of the WEDA membership will be sent to all members prior to the meeting. Please contact mwelsh@weda.org with any questions.

Guest Column: In communities, small investments are showing some big gains

WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, I’ve been thinking about some of the roles women play in Wisconsin’s economy and how our state can help them move ahead.

As most of us in the economic development field have learned, women have been among the hardest-hit by the pandemic and its aftermath, in some cases erasing gains made by generations of working women. Women-owned businesses, especially restaurants and service businesses such as hair and nail salons, saw huge drops in business in the early phases of the pandemic; now that demand for workers has heated up again, these same businesses also have had trouble attracting and retaining workers.

At the same time, women were often among the first to lose jobs or to leave jobs to take care of children, elderly or ill family members. Many still have not returned to work.

The last few years have also demonstrated how getting and keeping a job involves more than just showing up for work: It’s tied to being able to access quality, affordable child care — which is an issue facing both men and women – as well as housing, health care, and transportation. It’s difficult – if not impossible – to go to work if there’s no safe or affordable place to leave your kids, or if the bus stop is a mile away from your employer, or if you live two or three towns away because there’s no affordable housing near your job.

The most successful employers and communities these days are looking at workers not just as laborers but as individuals with specific needs — and finding ways to meet those needs. Thanks to the $100 million Governor Evers has allocated for the Wisconsin Innovation Grants, local governments, businesses, educators, and nonprofits all over the state are all pulling together to develop local solutions to workforce needs. We’re making unprecedented investments in worker training and education, child care, health care, and other areas to ensure our workforce needs are met for years to come.

Meanwhile, as our economy shifts toward recovery, there are broader issues of equity our state needs to address if we’re going to ensure everyone has the chance to achieve economic well-being. One of those issues is investing in women entrepreneurs and women-owned startups.

WEDC has been looking at how our state invests in these businesses, and while we’re keeping pace with national trends, we can do better. A recent WEDC review of investments made through our Qualified New Business Venture program, which provides tax benefits to investors in Wisconsin start-ups, shows that from 2017 to 2020, women-founded companies received a little less than 5.5% of the money invested in Wisconsin QNBV companies. That’s about half the national figure for comparable investments that go to companies with all-women or mixed-gender founding teams.

Wisconsin needs to do some catching up if we’re going to really ensure that all businesses in our state have what it takes to succeed. WEDC has begun talking with the venture capital and funding communities about these disparities, and investors seem open to taking a closer look at many of these start-ups. Their reasoning is simple: investing in women-founded and owned businesses makes economic sense.

National studies show startups with a woman founder on the team generate 10% more cumulative revenue over five years. At the same time, investment groups with more woman investing partner hires make more successful investments at the portfolio company level, achieving higher fund returns and more profitable exits.

But the really big wins are happening in our communities. One of the trends we’re seeing in the Great Resignation is that as people have left their jobs, they’ve started following their dreams and creating new businesses. We’re seeing this trend when businesses apply for WEDC’s Main Street Bounceback Grants and other assistance.

As I’ve traveled the state, I’ve seen that many of these new businesses are being started by women – like PLUSH in Kenosha, which opened to serve women of color -and women of any size – who wanted to feel beautiful. Or Argentum et Aurum in Fond du Lac, where the owner decided to leave her job as a marine biologist and start commercially producing the jewelry she’d been making as a hobby.

We also see this growth reflected in our surveys of the state’s 34 Main Street communities. A new survey from 2019-2021 – which included the first two years of the pandemic – found that women remain major players in downtown entrepreneurship.

Women owners account for more than 38% of all Main Street startups, and more than half if you include jointly owned businesses, such as those with spouses or other male partners.

The Main Street numbers bear out what we’re seeing in communities – that many first-time entrepreneurs are women, and they’re more likely to be found in rural areas running shops and restaurants. What we need to do as a state is to harness that entrepreneurial initiative and make sure these new businesses have the resources they need to succeed – both in the early days as well as when they start to scale up.

Broadening the base of which businesses get funding as they grow has many benefits: more Wisconsinites are empowered to start new businesses, which creates a more robust pipeline of projects worth funding and more high-tech, high-wage job opportunities. Those opportunities, in turn generate higher returns to investors that result in increased capital availability in Wisconsin. It’s a classic win-win scenario.

Missy Hughes is Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the state’s leading economic development organization.

Gov. Evers Appoints Elmer Moore Jr. to Serve as WHEDA CEO and Executive Director

Gov. Tony Evers today announced his appointment of Elmer Moore Jr. to serve as CEO and executive director of the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) effective April 11, 2022.

“Access to affordable housing is critical in supporting Wisconsin’s working families, employers, and the economic well-being of our communities,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m thrilled to have Elmer Moore join our administration to serve in this important role. His background in business development, job creation, strategic partnerships, and community engagement will be critical to ensuring that WHEDA’s commitment to housing equity and economic opportunity remains strong throughout our great state.”

Moore currently serves as the executive director of Scale Up Milwaukee for the Greater Milwaukee Committee. He has a proven track record in creating public-private partnerships and innovative programs that support business development and job creation resulting in over 1,400 jobs created for more than 200 Wisconsin organizations and securing more than $60 million in new capital investments. Moore has also secured national foundation funding that provides programming for entrepreneurship growth and resources to address the racial wealth gap.

“It is a tremendous honor to accept Gov. Evers’ appointment to serve as WHEDA’s CEO and executive director,” said Moore. “Advancing innovative solutions and resources that provide equity for all has been the foundation of my career. I look forward to working with WHEDA and its many public and private stakeholders to support the mission of stronger, more sustainable communities across Wisconsin.”

Moore has a bachelor’s degree from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia Business School in New York, New York. He lives in Milwaukee and serves as chairman of the board for the Social Development Commission, board member for the Harbor District, and adjunct instructor for Marquette University and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, instructing students on entrepreneurship.

Gov. Evers Announces More Than $86 Million for Diverse Business Investment and Diverse Business Assistance Grants

Funding aims to support small businesses through Community Development Financial Institutions and chambers of commerce statewide

Gov. Tony Evers recently awarded more than $86 million in grants to support small businesses in communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic that have historically had difficulty accessing credit and capital.

Of the more than $86 million, $57.6 million in grants were awarded through the Diverse Business Assistance Grant Program to 24 chambers of commerce and nonprofit organizations providing assistance to small businesses. These grants will support the work of chambers of commerce across the state in providing coaching and mentoring, technical assistance, equipment and internet services, digital literacy, online marketing and social media training, financial aid, and financial literacy support, as well as networking and educational opportunities for new business owners and emerging entrepreneurs. A list of grant awardees and additional information can be found here.

Another $28.8 million in grants were awarded through the Diverse Business Investment Grant Program to nine Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). These CDFIs support micro and small businesses not only through lending and providing access to capital and credit, but many also support programs that provide additional technical assistance, coaching and mentoring, and credit counseling. These grants will help these institutions continue to bolster and ignite economic and business growth in Wisconsin. A list of grant awardees and additional information can be found here.

Part of a more than $1 billion investment allocated by the governor for economic resilience and support for small businesses and impacted industries, the Diverse Business Assistance and the Diverse Business Investment Grant Programs were established to support an equitable economic recovery in Wisconsin and help businesses that have been both severely distressed by the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic and have historically had difficulty accessing the credit and capital necessary to recover. Both programs are administered by DOA and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Wisconsinites can visit BadgerBounceback.wi.gov to view all pandemic-related assistance information and data.

WEDA Academy Update: Kathy Heady, Academy Manager

The WEDA Academy kicked off it’s 2022 programming on February 9 with the comprehensive program: Economic Development Project Analysis. We had a full house at the Hilton Madison Monona Terrace. Course instructors – Kathryn Berger, JD, EDFP, HDFP, Business Development Manager, CG Schmidt, Inc.; Brad Elmer, CFA, Managing Director, Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors; Scott Harrington, AICP, Principal Planner, Vandewalle & Associates; and, Todd Kearney, CPA, SVP Senior Credit Officer, IncredibleBank – were outstanding and the course received very positive feedback from attendees.

On the afternoon of May 4, the Academy will be hosting a webinar: Exploring Opportunities in Freight Rail. Are businesses in your community interested in accessing or expanding their use of freight rail to bring in production inputs or to move finished products? Through this webinar, participants will expand their knowledge of the freight rail industry, learn about processes and important considerations when developing a freight rail project, and explore potential programs and resources for building freight rail industry spurs in Wisconsin. Examples of successful projects will be highlighted. This program will feature three speakers with a wealth of experience in the industry – Brian Buchanan, Sales Manager, Watco Companies LLC; Jeff Francis, Owner, Principal, and Railroad Engineer, TerraTec Engineering; and Rich Kedzior, Freight Rail Program Manager, Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Program registration will be open soon. Stay tuned for more information.

The Academy is planning three additional programs for 2022, including the following two webinars: Placemaking: Creating Your Quality Place on August 3 and TIF Fundamentals on November 2. In addition, on September 28 we will hold an exciting comprehensive program: Best Practices in Workforce Attraction September 28.

I hope that you will be able to join us for one or more of these exciting and affordable educational opportunities. As a reminder, be sure to look for approved credits/points for continuing education/recertification on the course registration information.

Please reach out to me at kheady@weda.org if you have any program ideas, topic suggestions or if you are interested in serving as an instructor.

Wisconsin Economic Development Institute Update: WEDI President Rob Kleman

Newer WEDA members may not be familiar with the Wisconsin Economic Development Institute (WEDI), which is the independent, non-profit, 501c3 Foundation of WEDA. That’s about to change, and I’m pleased to brief you on the important past, present, and future role of WEDI and how it can benefit WDA and economic development in Wisconsin.

What originally began as a WEDA “taskforce” back in the late 1990’s to focus on public policy research and related applications, WEDI has evolved into an important fiscal mechanism to support WEDA’s overall mission. As such, WEDI is in a unique position to support collaborative investment and underwriting relationships. For example, and due to the support of various grants, WEDI has most recently: 1.) Developed an initiative to create economic prosperity plans for Wisconsin Native American Tribes; and 2.) Delivered technical assistance grants to local EDO’s for entrepreneurial activities.

Equally important, WEDI is exploring additional grant opportunities with strategic partners and foundations, including those that would assist with providing value-added and niche programming for Wisconsin’s underserved populations and communities.

This relationship between WEDI and WEDA creates a win-win for Wisconsin’s economic development practitioners and their organizations. For transparency and accountability purposes, the contractual arrangements between WEDI and WEDA (which are mainly administrative in nature) are reviewed and approved by the Boards from each organization, respectively. To enhance these relations, as well as to add more continuity, the WEDA Past-Board Chair (or designee) now serves as a member of the WEDI Board and the WEDI Board President (or designee) serves as a member of the WEDA Board.

In closing, WEDI continues to support WEDA’s efforts, and it is continuously looking for additional and new ways to provide value-added services to WEDA’s membership. Interested in learning more about WEDI? Contact WEDA’s V.P. of Legislative Affairs & Communications Michael Welsh at mwelsh@weda.org.

Political News and Notes

Gov. Evers Signs Environmental TIF Legislation Into Law

New law will help communities eliminate blight and spur redevelopment of contaminated properties

Last week, Governor Tony Evers singed the Environmental Remediation and Redevelopment Bill (SB 518) into law as 2021 WI Act 149. The new law, which was a top priority for WEDA during the 2021-22 legislative session, will allow local communities to more effectively utilize Environmental Remediation Tax Incremental Districts (ERTIDs) to revitalize contaminated properties and spur redevelopment.

Under previous state law, Wisconsin communities could utilize an ERTID to cover capital costs, as well as financing and professional services costs associated with the investigation and removal of pollution from the environment, including the ground and water in the TID.

However, communities could not use an ERTID to address environmental pollution within existing structures, as the demolition or redevelopment of contaminated buildings were not an eligible ERTID project cost. 2021 WI Act 149 remedies this issue by modifying TIF law to qualify the redevelopment or demolition of exiting structures contaminated with harmful substances as an eligible ERTID project cost. While the change is small, the economic development impact of the bill will be substantial, providing communities with a narrow, yet effective tool to encourage the redevelopment of contaminated structures and create new economic opportunities.

Older buildings are often contaminated with hazardous materials, such as asbestos, lead, and other heavy metals. These contaminants can create a significant barrier to the redevelopment of these structures due to the increased challenges and costs of environmental clean-up. As a result, these sites can remain vacant for decades, contributing to blight and diminished property values in communities across the state. The recently signed law provides communities across the state with a key tool to help address this problem.

It is also important to point out the new law could help promote the development of much-needed workforce housing across the state. A growing trend in Wisconsin and across the country is the conversion of aging, vacant buildings, such as schools, churches, and even medical clinics, into affordable workforce housing, giving these buildings a second shot at serving their communities. ERTIDs can now be used to create these additional housing options.

Lastly, WEDA members should remember that a community’s first ERTID is exempt from the state’s 12% TIF limit, In other words, 2021 WI Act 149 also provides communities with greater TIF flexibility.

WEDA would like to thank the bill’s authors – Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Rep. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) – for introducing this important economic development bill and Gov. Evers for signing it into law.

Legislature Passes Veteran Talent Attraction Bill

Earlier this week, the Wisconsin Senate passed Assembly Bill 888 to help address Wisconsin’s growing workforce shortage crisis by funding a comprehensive talent attraction program that focuses on military veterans and their families. The bill, which is a top WEDA legislative priority, passed the Assembly in February. The bill will now be sent to Gov. Tony Evers, who can either sign the bill into law or veto it.

The legislation directs $10 million from the state’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to market Wisconsin as a great place to live and work for U.S. service members and their families who are transitioning to civilian life. Almost 200,000 service members leave the military each year, and these new veterans often have the skills, training, and leadership qualities needed to help address Wisconsin’s talent gap and provide businesses with an expanded employee pool.

“The biggest challenge facing Wisconsin businesses today is the state’s labor shortage and their inability to find enough workers to fill open jobs. It has unfortunately reached a crisis point and is threatening Wisconsin’s future economic growth,” said Mary Perry, WEDA President and CEO. “This bill would strengthen the state’s talent attraction program and renew efforts to bring highly-trained, experienced military veterans to Wisconsin.”

WEDC’s past talent attraction efforts have shown to effectively promote Wisconsin as great place to move to for career opportunities and a better quality of life. Assembly Bill 888, if signed into law by the governor, will provide a much-needed boost to the state’s talent attraction initiative and help ensure it continues to be a highly valuable talent development tool.

WEDA would like to thank the bill’s authors Rep. Nancy VanderMeer (R-Tomah) and Sen. Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay) for their leadership on this important legislation.

Workforce Housing Tax Credit Legislation Builds Momentum for Next Session

Late last year, the Assembly passed Assembly Bill 156, legislation that would have created a Wisconsin Workforce Housing Tax Credit to encourage the development of modern, affordable multi-family housing projects for younger professionals and middle-income workers and their families.

Charlie Walker and WEDA lobbyist Michael Welsh testify on workforce housing tax credit legislation.

Unfortunately, the legislation got bogged down in the state Senate due to fiscal and political concerns. Given the Legislature has adjourned for the current legislative session, the bill will not pass and will have to be reintroduced next year. The good news is the bill did receive a public hearing before a key Senate committee earlier this month, which will help build momentum for the proposal when the Legislature reconvenes in 2023.

WEDA would like to thank Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Charlie Walker for testifying on the bill before the Senate Financial Institutions and Revenue Committee. He did a tremendous job making a case for this important legislation that would have created a $42 million workforce housing tax credit that focuses on the so-called “missing middle” of the housing spectrum – multi-family housing for individuals and families earning between 60 percent and 100 percent of area median income.

Although AB 156 did not pass this session, there is good news on the workforce housing front. The Legislature did approve the following two workforce housing bills over the past few weeks, both of which are supported by WEDA:

Senate Bill 629 – Would create a certified shovel-ready workforce housing development site program administered by WEDC.
Assembly Bill 607 – Would create a low interest loan program to upgrade eligible single-family homes built before 1980 that need rehabilitation.

These bills will now be sent to Gov. Evers for final consideration. WEDA will encourage him to sign the proposals into law.

Political Quick Notes

Recent Marquette Law Poll

The latest version of the Marquette Law Poll was released at the beginning of the month. The poll, a public policy initiative of Marquette University Law School, surveys Wisconsin voters on their opinions of various national and statewide elected officials, candidates for office, and leading issues of the day. Please find below the highlights of the latest poll:

- Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate Election (Democratic primary):
  With respect to those voters who intend to vote in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s seat, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes was the leading candidate with 23 percent, followed by Alex Lasry with 13 percent. The remaining handful of candidates only received support in the single digits, while 48 percent of Democratic primary voters have not decided whom they will support.
- Wisconsin Gubernatorial Election (Republican primary):
  Republican gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch leads her primary rivals with 30 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters selecting her; eight percent selecting former U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson; and five percent selecting current State Representative Tim Ramthun. However, 54 percent of these voters responded that they did not know whom they will support in the Republican primary.
- Approval/Disapproval of Office Holders:
  - Governor Tony Evers (D) – 50 percent approval / 41 percent disapproval
  - President Joe Biden (D) – 43 percent approval / 52 percent disapproval
  - Senator Tammy Baldwin (D) – 42 percent approval / 36 percent disapproval
  - Senator Ron Johnson (R) – 33 percent approval / 45 percent disapproval

Recent Court Rulings on Legislative Redistricting

At the beginning of each decade, the state redraws state legislative and congressional district lines based on data from the most recent federal census. After Governor Evers vetoed the legislature’s proposed legislative and congressional district maps last year, this dispute ended up in the courts. On March 3, 2022, the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided that Governor Evers’ updated state legislative and congressional maps will be used as they make fewer changes to district boundaries than the Legislature’s proposed maps.

On Monday, March 7, the Legislature appealed this ruling directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. And just last week, the nation’s highest court threw out the state legislative maps drawn by Governor Evers and adopted by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court said the state court’s approval of Evers’ maps was flawed, as it did not adequately consider whether certain newly crafted Assembly Districts in Milwaukee complied with the federal Voting Rights Act. The maps were sent back to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for further consideration.

Legislative Turnover Continues

The exodus of current lawmakers from the state Legislature continues, as Rep. Ken Skowronski (R-Franklin) announced last week he won’t seek reelection. Please find below a list of state legislators who won’t be seeking reelection this fall:

- Wisconsin Senate:
  - Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) – Retiring
  - Janet Bewley (D-Mason) – Retiring
  - Jon Erpenbach (D-West Point) – Retiring
  - Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) – Likely redistricted out of his seat
  - Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon) – Retiring
  - Janis Ringhand (D-Evansville) – Retiring
  - Roger Roth (R-Appleton) – Running for Lt. Governor

- Wisconsin Assembly:
  - David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) – Running for Lt. Governor
  - Rachel Cabral-Guevara (R-Appleton) – Running for state Senate
  - Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) – Running for state Senate
  - Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) – Retiring
  - Jesse James (R-Altoona) – Running for state Senate
  - Mike Kuglitsch(R-New Berlin) – Retiring
  - Amy Loudenbeck(R-Clinton) – Running for WI Secretary of State
  - Beth Meyers (D-Bayfield) – Retiring
  - Tim Ramthun (R-Campbellsport) – Running for Governor
  - Sara Rodriguez (D-Brookfield) – Running for Lt. Governor
  - Ken Skowronski (R-Franklin) – Retiring
  - Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) – Running for state Senate
  - Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) – Retiring

In Case You Missed It: Applications Open for Project Growth Grants

New grant program aims to build relationships between early care and business communities

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) recently opened applications for Project Growth, a $20 million grant program designed to help solve the challenges facing Wisconsin’s child care system and bolster the state’s economy. Applications for the grants are open through April 4, 2022.

Project Growth is offering two unique grants aimed at making high-quality, affordable child care more accessible and sustainable across Wisconsin:

The Partner Up! grant program focuses on supporting partnerships between businesses and child care providers by offering funding to businesses who purchase slots at existing regulated child care providers. Funding under this program will be awarded based on existing community child care needs throughout Wisconsin.

The Dream Up! Child Care Supply-Building grant program focuses on building child care supply through a collaborative community approach. Funding under this program will be awarded to 30 communities around the state to help create new child care businesses and enhance existing providers through expansion, new programs, and other offerings.

Businesses are encouraged to apply for Partner Up! grants, while child care providers, community organizations, businesses, and local government agencies or school districts are encouraged to apply for the Dream Up! grants. Applications for both grants are open through April 4, 2022, and available on DCF’s Project Growth page.

To help design a grant program that meets the needs of Wisconsin employers and communities, DCF, surveyed nearly 1,000 employers from every county in the state, across a wide range of industries. The results highlighted the importance of child care to the state’s economy and workforce with 73% of respondents agreeing that providing employees with resources to support their child care needs is a strategy that all employers should consider to address workforce/labor shortages. However, many respondents cited barriers in providing such benefits, with a majority stating federal or state government incentives would increase the likelihood that their company could implement or expand child care resources.