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As part of our ongoing efforts to help northern Wisconsin recover in the wake of damaging floods two weeks ago, we
spoke with response teams, tribal leaders, as well as county and local leaders
from throughout northern Wisconsin. Specifically, we held meetings on
Monday in Ashland and Hayward.
These
meetings with local leaders help us hear directly about the needs and concerns
of their communities affected by the storm, so we are better equipped to help
them recover from this natural disaster. I was on site two weeks ago, and
our teams have been on the ground since to maximize the response.
We’ve
mobilized response teams, and we’re utilizing every resource possible at the
local, state, and federal level to get the people in these communities back on
their feet.
This
includes requesting a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Preliminary
Damage Assessment, which is one of the necessary first steps to receiving
federal disaster assistance. FEMA officials arrived in northern Wisconsin on
Monday night and began their assessment on Tuesday.
Our
state – including areas affected by the floods – remains open for business.
Families and visitors to Wisconsin are encouraged to call ahead and check
conditions before they cancel their vacation or travel plans. Attractions
in northern Wisconsin are open for business.
Check
out the Ready Wisconsin website below for continual updates about conditions in
northern Wisconsin.
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Last week, the
Department of Workforce Development (DWD) released Wisconsin’s latest jobs
numbers, which indicate our state added 49,000 private sector jobs over the
year and almost 11,000 in the month of June.
Our state is working –
literally.
Wisconsin’s unemployment
rate also holds steady at a 15-year low of 4.2 percent, while, the national
unemployment rate increased to 4.9 percent.
Did you know Wisconsin
was one of only ten states in the nation with a lower annual average
unemployment in 2015 than in 2007 when the recession began?
At 68.5 percent, our
labor force participation rate also significantly outpaces the national rate.
To top it all off,
total employment is hovering at record levels in Wisconsin…and we plan to keep
it that way!
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On Monday, we traveled
to Oshkosh for our annual visit to the “World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration,”
EAA AirVenture.
Every year, thousands
of aviation enthusiasts representing more than 80 countries flock to Oshkosh
for EAA AirVenture. With over 10,000 aircrafts flying into the airport
throughout the week, Wittman Regional Airport briefly becomes the busiest
airport in the world!
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EAA AirVenture boasts
fun events for the whole family and serves as a major tourist attraction in
Wisconsin. Throughout the week, visitors are spending their money on things
like food, lodging, and gas – all of which stays in the Oshkosh community and
has a positive impact on the area and our state as a whole.
The event also gives us
the chance to highlight Wisconsin’s aviation and aerospace cluster, which is
one of the industries we highlight when we go on trade missions around the
world.
EAA AirVenture is a
great opportunity for us to make connections and demonstrate to international
businesses all our state has to offer in this growing field.
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We enjoy sharing all the great news about our state with you. It is an honor to serve as your Governor and represent the people of Wisconsin.
Sincerely,
Governor Scott Walker
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