Mike Harrigan:

This is an exciting time for WEDA. Due to the past leadership of prior WEDA Boards and its first full-time executive director and current staff, WEDA has positioned itself to play a key role going forward as a resource to both public and private economic developers across this state.  We all know that the challenges ahead are formidable, but with great challenges come great opportunity as well. I am pleased to be able to help with the transition that is underway.

Mike Harrigan

During the period of transition from our former executive director to the new director, I was asked to serve in a collaborative role with Kathy Davies as a “Co-Interim Executive Director”.  Kathy will be involved in the day to day administrative responsibilities of the executive director, and I would come into play in the event that there are questions or matters involving economic development that might call for someone with a more technical background in the field. As interim co-directors, Kathy and I are also providing primary staffing support to the WEDA Board’s Search and Screening Committee that is currently working on filling the executive director position on a permanent basis.

For those that do not know me, a bit of background…   I have served in Wisconsin as a City Manager / Administrator for 19 years in 3 communities in Wisconsin prior to joining the Ehlers & Associates firm in 1993.  Ehlers is a regional Financial / Municipal Advisory firm for Local Governments. At Ehlers I was a Senior Municipal Advisor focusing exclusively on Wisconsin municipal clients. I retired as Chairman of Ehlers in November of 2018 having served 25 years with the Company.   Shortly after retiring in early 2019 Brian Doudna contacted me to ask that I consider a part time role with WEDA to assist with their new CRA Network initiative.

 

During my professional career, I have had a long and enjoyable relationship with WEDA and its leadership. During my years at Ehlers I spent a great deal of my time focused on matters involving Economic Development finance—specifically Tax Incremental Financing (TIF), developer pro-forma review and development agreement negotiation support. Ehlers has always been a strong supporter of WEDA and its efforts to advance Economic Development within the State.   In its role in support of TIF legislation WEDA, along with the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and the Wisconsin Realtors Association has often called upon Ehlers and its team of advisors to provide technical support for various legislative initiatives including TIF law modifications.

I have agreed continue to serve WEDA on a part time basis through June of 2021 and during that time will be working with the new Executive Director to solidify the CRA Network initiative and to assist in any other ways that I can.   The ultimate objective is to “work myself out of another job”!

In the meantime, I have started a new company (H & A Advisors LLC) with a former Ehlers partner to focus on another passion of mine – we have developed a unique model for Workforce Housing finance!

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WEDC Bulletin: An Update from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation 

As Wisconsin enters its seventh month battling the COVID-19 pandemic, WEDC continues to advance on multiple fronts to address the challenges it poses to our state’s economy.

WEDC’s integrated approach is proceeding along three major lines: immediate assistance to help those businesses hit hardest by the pandemic; strategic initiatives to create the conditions needed for longer-term recovery; and continued commitment to “traditional” economic development programs.

In terms of immediate assistance, WEDC has launched a second round of We’re All In Small Business Grants to distribute $50 million in federal CARES Act funds by the end of calendar year 2020. This follows the success of the first round of We’re All In grants, which distributed more than $62.5 million to more than 26,000 businesses over the summer.

The latest round will provide $5,000 grants to 10,000 businesses; priority will be given to businesses that have been most deeply impacted by the pandemic. The grants will be administered by the Department of Revenue in collaboration with WEDC.

The pandemic has forced many to rethink their business model, such as by moving sales online, offering curbside takeout and outdoor seating, or developing products that meet consumers’ unique needs during this time. To recognize and encourage that spirit of innovation, both in the current crisis and beyond, WEDC is sponsoring the We’re All Innovating Contest, which will provide $3 million to roughly 195 businesses. Judging will begin soon, with an eye toward naming the contest winners by year-end.

As WEDC noted in its Wisconsin Tomorrow – An Economy for All report, the pandemic has demonstrated that broadband is essential for business, education, and even health care. WEDC and the Wisconsin Public Service Commission have teamed up to establish the Broadband Connectors pilot program. Six communities – the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Ho-Chunk Nation, School District of Owen-Withee, Town of Cross, and St. Croix and Fond du Lac counties – will receive technical assistance in applying for existing public and private sector broadband expansion funds.

Ensuring Wisconsin’s rural communities have a vibrant future is one of the keys to our state’s longer-term recovery, and the Broadband Connectors pilot is a step toward that objective. Later this fall, the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Rural Prosperity will make its recommendations to Governor Evers to assist in shaping the next biennial budget.

Meanwhile, WEDC continues to invest in our communities and our economic development infrastructure. WEDC recently approved Key Strategic Partner funding for all nine Regional Economic Development Organizations (REDOs) and three minority chambers of commerce. The importance of these relationships has only heightened as we all work together to build a more diverse, inclusive, and resilient state economy.

Local projects are also moving forward. In recent weeks, WEDC has celebrated its support for UpStart Kitchen and the African American Chamber of Wisconsin, both in Milwaukee; the start of construction for HARIBO’s manufacturing facility in Pleasant Prairie; and community development projects in Lancaster, Holmen, and Oshkosh.

Despite the pandemic, Wisconsin’s central location, well-trained workforce, and outstanding infrastructure remains a draw for businesses looking to expand or relocate.  WEDC will have more news to announce on these projects in the next few months so, as always, to keep up with the latest in Wisconsin economic development, check out our website at wedc.org and follow us on Twitter at @wedcnews.

WEDA Partners to Launch Innovative CRA Survey and Data Portal: Whitney Roberts, CRA Network Coordinator

Whitney Roberts

Before the pandemic dramatically changed the landscape of communities and businesses across Wisconsin, a committed group of lenders and economic development professionals worked together through the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Network to identify potential deals focused on meeting community needs as well as federal regulation. While successful, members and leaders saw gaps in the geographic reach of the network and also in the types of projects available for funding. Members of the network began asking why and how we might move to fill those gaps and connect lenders, large and small, with the most pressing needs of our communities, in accordance with Community Reinvestment Act regulation.

In March 2020, a core team from WEDA identified leaders in nonprofit, finance, philanthropy, social services, healthcare, housing, workforce development, and economic development to serve as members of a working group. The purpose of the working group was to build a comprehensive community needs assessment survey that could provide actionable data to both community organizations and funders statewide to meet the needs of low and moderate income individuals. The 22 member working group met throughout the summer to identify gaps in community needs assessment data and develop questions for their audiences that would provide valuable insights not currently available, ultimately leading to increased CRA eligible deals.

Dawn Follendorf, Community Reinvestment Officer at Incredible Bank and CRA Survey Working Group Chair describes the impact of the project this way :

• “The CRA survey results will provide us with much needed insights on the barriers to financial security faced by low- and moderate-income individuals and the economic inclusion needs of minority populations across all regions of Wisconsin we serve. With this information, we will be better equipped to develop partnerships and direct our resources in a way that best meet the most pressing needs in our communities.”

Members of the working group represented United Way of Wisconsin, WISCAP, UW Milwaukee Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management, WEDC Office of Rural Prosperity, Wells Fargo, Rural Wisconsin Healthcare Collaborative, WHEDA, BMO Harris, UW Madison Extension, Association of Wisconsin Regional Planning Commissions, Wisconsin Philanthropy Network, and Economic Growth Advisors, LLC.

The survey is currently live through the beginning of November 2020. Results of the survey will be available on www.cranetwork.org by February of 2021 and a full portal of statewide data will be publicly available next year at the same address. If you have received an email invitation to complete the survey, we’re asking you to complete it by October 31st.

For questions about the survey or the project, contact project lead, Brian Doudna at doudna@sheboygancountyedc.com. Thank you to all of our partners and to those completing the survey for their time and effort.

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