Jobs & our Economy

Wisconsin needs to be vigilant in supporting a business climate that creates and retains family-supporting jobs. We must continue to reduce red tape while encouraging investment. As importantly, the Legislature should reject record breaking tax increases on businesses proposed by Senate Democrats that throw up a red-light to out-of-state businesses looking to expand here.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Video Competition Act (2007 Act 42): Open up competition and streamline application process for broadband providers throughout the state to lower costs and expand choice.

Broadband Deployment Act (2005 Act 479): Incentives to expand broadband into rural communities, these tax credits of $7.5 million leveraged $80 million in private investments to expand broadband in 261 communities in 63 counties, including Amery Telecom and CenturyTel in our region. Rural Wisconsin needs access to the internet super-highway.

Angel investment and early stage seed tax credits (2005 Act 25): Encouraging investment in business start-ups and innovation is critical to growing Wisconsin’s economy.

Commerce Tax Credit Consolidation Bill (2007 Act 125): Consolidates five existing development zones into a single tax incentive pool. The five programs are the community development zone, the enterprise development zone, the agricultural development zone, the technology zone, and the airport development zone. The five different funding pots will be pooled together to create a larger fund that will be better able to meet emerging opportunities in any part of the state. As of June 1, the projected balance of the fund is $30 million.

UW Growth Agenda (2007 Act 20): Utilize regional resources and talent to assist emerging business opportunities, most notably nanotechnology and science in the Chippewa Valley.

ACTION

Economy is Job One

• Reinvestment incentives: Allow individuals, partnerships and limited liability companies to avoid paying taxes on capital gains if they use them to fund qualifying young businesses in the state.
• Segregated fund protection. Ensure protection of transportation fund, which is vital to projects initiated like the I-94 Corridor upgrades; a lifeblood for our business community.
• Border Incentive Grants. BIG can help our region compete with neighboring Minnesota by targeting tax credits to vibrant regions, such as western Wisconsin.
• Health Care Savings & Security
• Expand Wisconsin Growth Agenda. Partner higher education with opportunities to enhance skills for specific regions, such as nanostem initiative in the Chippewa Valley.
• New Stillwater Bridge: Interstate cooperation has put the project back on track.