On Monday, we kicked
off yet another Cabinet on the Road event – this time making 100 stops within
Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Rusk, Sawyer, and Washburn counties.
This Cabinet on the
Road marks the third time members of our Cabinet have taken to the road this
year, with visits in southwestern Wisconsin in March and western Wisconsin in
July.
This time around, many
of our stops focused on promoting northwest Wisconsin as being “Open for Business,”
as well as continuing to work with locals about ways we can support them as
they recover from July’s floods.
To kick off Cabinet on
the Road, we joined Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wardens for a boat
tour of the Apostle Islands. The 21 islands and 12 miles of mainland are truly
the epitome of the natural beauty Wisconsin has to offer, and it was great to
hear from DNR wardens about their daily experiences on Lake Superior.
|
We also had the
opportunity to join Tourism officials at the Garmisch Resort, one of the area’s
premier resorts and a major destination for visitors to our state. Tourist
destinations like the Garmisch Resort demonstrate northern Wisconsin remains
very much open for business in the wake of major storms in July.
We continue to
encourage visitors to call ahead and check on the conditions in the area of
their travel rather than cancel their plans altogether.
Finally, we toured the
Saxon Harbor, which was devastated by severe flooding in July. A total of $10.2
million in damages was sustained due to the destruction of the harbor,
campground, and marina.
During our visit, we
presented Iron County with a Wisconsin Coastal Management Program Grant of
$24,450, which will go towards the planning and recovery efforts for the Saxon
Harbor. The harbor is a major navigational resource and economic asset to
northwestern Wisconsin, and this grant will help get the harbor and community
back on its feet.
To learn more about our
Cabinet on the Road visits, check out the hashtag #WICabinet below!
|
Last week, I joined
officials from Direct Supply, Inc. in unveiling their plans to expand the
company’s global headquarters in Milwaukee.
Their plans include a
new, five-story, 280,000 square foot office building, a medical office and
wellness clinic for employees and their families, as well as additional office
and conference room space to accommodate employees and customers from around
the world.
Over the next seven
years, the expansion plans are expected to create more than 800 jobs here in
Wisconsin. Now that’s good news.
As a leading provider
of equipment, e-commerce, and service solutions to the senior living community,
Direct Supply had a lot of options when it came down to deciding where they
should expand.
Our priority is to
encourage investment in Wisconsin, and we’re glad companies like Direct Supply
know how our efforts and reforms are benefiting Wisconsin’s economy and
workforce. If they weren’t, you can bet they wouldn’t have chosen to expand
here.
We also worked with the
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to authorize up to $22.5
million in state tax credits through 2023 to help them with the expansion
project. Of course, these credits are contingent upon the number of jobs
created and retained during that time, as well as the total capital investment
in Milwaukee.
According to Secretary
and CEO of WEDC, Mark Hogan, the Direct Supply expansion “will have an impact
well beyond Milwaukee, and we are pleased WEDC was able to help ensure this
major employer solidified its commitment to the state.”
We’re thrilled Direct
Supply decided to move forward with this expansion plan, which will provide
hundreds of family supporting jobs for the residents of Milwaukee and
throughout the entire region.
|
The most recent numbers released about Wisconsin’s workforce prove that our state is working. That is good news for all the citizens of our great state.
More people are working in Wisconsin this year than ever before in the history of our state.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the numbers at the state level:
- Wisconsin Unemployment Rate is 4.2% - the lowest it’s been since March of 2001.
- Wisconsin Labor Force Participation Rate is 68% - making us one of the best states in the country.
- Private sector jobs added from July 2015 – July 2016 – 45,700.
- Private sector jobs added in July 2016 alone – 5,000.
- Currently, there are more than 91,000 job openings posted on www.JobCenterofWisconsin.com
Now, let’s look at the local statistics:
- Since July of 2015, unemployment dropped in every single metro area in Wisconsin.
-
From June to July of this year, unemployment dropped in 30 of Wisconsin’s 32 major cities.
- Over the year, unemployment dropped or held steady in 69 of 72 Wisconsin counties.
Looking forward, we are committed to continuing our investments in worker training programs, which help employers match their job openings with skilled workers throughout the state.
Together, we’re ensuring our state is leading the way when it comes to delivering quality products and services with a dedicated, quality workforce.
|
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
|