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As an economic developer, when you get a chance to
rub elbows with senior real estate directors from top
companies like Dell, Pfizer, Merck, 3M, Campbell's
Soup, BASF, CSX, Hallmark Cards, United
Technologies and others - being on an island is just
an added bonus. Forward Wisconsin's Jan Alf and
Pepi Randolph will be telling the Wisconsin economic
development story to important asset managers this
coming weekend at their professional gathering on
Amelia Island.
On March 3-7, Forward Wisconsin will be conducting
an business marketing effort to a veritable "Who's
Who of Corporate Real Estate" at the Industrial Asset
Management Council (IAMC) Spring 2007
Professional Forum on Amelia Island near
Jacksonville, Florida. IAMC is the leading association
of industrial asset management and corporate real
estate executives, their suppliers and providers.The
competition for the attention of these business
location decision-makers will be strong. At last count,
over 25 other states will be represented at the event,
as will many cities and regions.
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Governor Jim Doyle has again included additional
dollars for economic development marketing in his
proposed state biennial budget. Senate Bill 40, the Governor's 2007-09
budget proposal, was introduced on February 14 and
it includes nearly $600,000 annually in new funding for
promoting Wisconsin's business climate.
Under the proposed budget, Forward Wisconsin will
receive $320,000 annually in state funding to continue
our aggressive marketing program. We are required
by statute to match - one-to-one - the $320,000 with
private sector dollars, prior to garnering public dollars.
Last year, Forward Wisconsin raised about $480,000
from private entities to support our business
marketing mission. Over our group's history, the
state's funding commitment has helped to leverage
over $13 million in private sector funding. The
Governor's proposed budget would allow us to
continue this important public-private partnership for
economic development.
In addition to continuing funding for Forward
Wisconsin, Governor Doyle has proposed new
funding in the amount of $590,000 annually within the
Wisconsin Department of Commerce budget for
economic development marketing and promotion.
Governor Doyle proposed additional economic
development marketing and promotion dollars in his
2005-07 biennial budget as well. The budget
proposal will work its way through the Legislature over
the next few months and is scheduled for passage by
June 30.
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To keep pace with the flurry of activity related to
Wisconsin's participation in BIO 2007 - the world's
largest biotechnology conference being held this May
in Boston - BIOWI.com
is being regularly updated. The site is packed with
information on the conference, links to research
reports, links to biotech-related groups, links to videos
and more.
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Wisconsin ranks 12th in direct motor vehicle
employment and 13th in total employment contribution
of motor vehicle parts supplier operations according to
study prepared for The Motor & Equipment
Manufacturers Association (MEMA). The 50-state
research report, released last month, lists Wisconsin
as having 21,502 in direct motor vehicle employment
and 120,729 in total employment contribution of motor
vehicle parts supplier operations.
According to MEMA, motor vehicle parts manufacturers
are the leading U.S. manufacturing employer,
accounting for 4.5 million private industry jobs and 5.5
percent of all U.S. manufacturing jobs. This includes
1.97 million indirect jobs in industries from steel to
plastics and technical services that support motor
vehicle parts manufacturing, and an additional 1.7
million jobs (spin-off) supported by spending from
direct and indirect employees. Suppliers’ total
employment equates to 4.5 million workers and $253
billion in compensation, or $45,790 average yearly
compensation per industry worker.
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Our three featured partners for the month are The
Kenosha News, Kwik Trip and the Milwaukee Metro
Association of Commerce (MMAC). The Kenosha
News is a daily newspaper, with about 26,000
subscribers that is distributed primarily in Kenosha
County. Kwik
Trip, headquartered in La Crosse, is involved in
the convenience store industry with over 300
convenience stores and Tobacco Outlet stores
throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. The MMAC is a
143-year-old private, not-for-profit organization
representing 2,000 member businesses in
Milwaukee, Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee
counties. We appreciate their support and the
support of all our partners!
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As Forward Wisconsin continues into its 23rd year, I remain optimistic and excited about its future and Wisconsin's economic future. It's been a pleasure being involved with Forward Wisconsin and partnering with you to encourage business investment in the state. Keep up the good work!
Thank you,
 Pepi Randolph
Forward Wisconsin
Phone:
608.261.2500
Website:
http://www.forwardwi.com
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