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Our reforms are
working. Businesses are growing, a historic number of people are working, and
our state’s economy is headed in the right direction.
Our Unemployment
Insurance (UI) Trust Fund is also the healthiest it’s been since 2003.
That means employers
covered under the UI program will see about a $38 million reduction in their UI
taxes for 2017 – marking the second consecutive tax year employer UI taxes went
down.
When combined with the
$97 million reduction for 2016, employers will see total two-year savings of
$135 million.
We’re easing the UI tax
burden, which helps businesses invest in their employees, widen their talent
pool, and attract new workers.
The UI program benefits
employees as well and is available to workers who become unemployed through no
fault of their own.
Our strong UI Trust
Fund is allowing Wisconsin companies continue to grow, and it serves as yet
another positive indicator for businesses looking to expand in Wisconsin and
create more jobs.
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The key to the future
success of our state is preparing the next generation of our workforce. We see
it all the time throughout Wisconsin and the nation – employers won’t move to
an area with a limited supply of able and prepared workers.
One of the ways we
equip our workers with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the
workforce is by helping them receive a college education.
That’s why we want to
make it as easy as possible for Wisconsin students to go to college. We’ve
already put in place measures to reduce the burden of college costs on the
hard-working students and families of our state.
This includes
implementing a historic tuition freeze at all University of Wisconsin schools,
increasing needs-based grants, requiring higher education institutions to
provide a letter to each student laying out student debt and cost of attendance
every year, and creating a scholarship program for high school students focused
on technical education.
With two sons, one a
recent college graduate and one a college senior, Tonette and I know the
importance of planning ahead for the cost of higher education.
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Our goal is to provide
greater access to financial planning resources, so students and families are armed
with all of the information and can best plan the higher education path that is
right for them.
Earlier this year, we
created a new Student Loan Debt Specialist position within the Department of
Financial Institution’s Office of Financial Literacy.
Wisconsin's new Student
Debt Specialist, Cheryl Weiss, is already hard at work developing an outreach
program to provide students, parents, and educators with information about debt
management, investment, and educational options. This helps students make the
most of their college experience while minimizing their student debt as they
pursue their degree.
Together, our efforts
are working to make higher education more accessible and affordable for
Wisconsin’s students. Looking ahead, this means we have more qualified workers
to fill open positions, leading to a stronger workforce and a healthy economy.
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Are you a small business owner? Are you interested in
networking with hundreds of other small business owners from across the state?
Do you want to expand your business and customer base?
Well, you’re in luck! Join Lieutenant Governor Rebecca
Kleefisch, business leaders representing both the public and private sectors,
and me in Appleton on Monday, September 19, 2016, for the Governor’s Small
Business Summit.
The summit promises to be an engaging, energizing day focused
on job creation for Wisconsin’s small and medium businesses.
Registration is $50, including lunch, and seats are limited
and filling up fast. Check out the website below to learn more and register. We
hope to see you there!
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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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