Broadband Contract Improves Service, Saves Taxpayers Millions

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New Broadband Contract Improves Service and Speed While Saving Taxpayers Millions

EU Southern Door

Yesterday, we joined State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Evers in announcing a new contract which increases broadband capacity on the BadgerNet Converged Network (BCN) while saving taxpayers millions every year.

We traveled to the school districts of Cuba City and Southern Door to discuss the benefits of the new BCN contract. The contract directly benefits both school districts by allowing them to increase broadband capacity while maintaining their current rate.

BCN serves all 72 Wisconsin counties by providing broadband service to state government and educational entities, including technical colleges, pre-Kindergarten through 12th-grade schools, private colleges, and charter schools.

EU Cuba City

During our visits to the Cuba City and Southern Door school districts, we also had the opportunity to highlight the availability of TEACH grants. 

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) is now accepting TEACH grant applications with $9 million available to school districts.

This is a big deal for the people of Wisconsin.

Faster, more reliable access to the internet is crucial as our state continues to move into the 21st century. The new broadband contract we announced yesterday dramatically improves the quality of service to schools and local governments throughout Wisconsin.

At the end of the day, this enhances the quality of education for our students, as well as the quality of local government services for our taxpayers.


"Back to School" Sales Tax Holiday to Save Wisconsin Families an Estimated $11 Million Annually

Kohl's Back to School Sales Tax Holiday announcment

Today, I visited Shopko Stores Operating Corporation in Green Bay and Kohl’s in Menomonee Falls to make an important tax relief announcement.

In our 2017-19 biennial budget, we plan to include a “Back to School” sales tax holiday, which would last two days beginning on the first Saturday of August 2017. The sales tax exemption would apply to school supplies, computers, and clothing items.

This tax relief will help to the hard-working families of Wisconsin send their children back to school in the fall.

Our top priority will continue to be the hardworking taxpayers. That’s why we continue to travel throughout Wisconsin to hear from our citizens through opportunities like our listening sessions and Cabinet on the Road.

We’re always working to be better stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars and reduce taxes.

This sales tax holiday is just one of the ways we’re working to reduce costs and ease the tax burden.


14,410 Wisconsin FoodShare Members Enter the Workforce

EU FSET

Recent data released by the Department of Health Services shows our job training program, FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET), is working.

Thousands of FoodShare members participating throughout Wisconsin are gaining employment, with average hourly wages of $11.99 and an average of 32.2 hours worked every week.

Wisconsin is unique because we made a significant investment in our employment training program for able-bodied adults through the FoodShare program. We know that while people want to work, sometimes they need help removing the barriers that prevent them from reaching that goal.

Our job training program offers FoodShare recipients a customized plan to help them gain employment and enter the workforce, including free educational courses, vocational training, support to bolster their job skills, transportation assistance, and more!

Since the worker training requirement went into effect last year in April, 14,410 FoodShare members who have participated in the FSET program have successfully entered the workforce. Now that’s great news!

Our reforms are working, and more importantly, more people in Wisconsin are working. Looking forward, we will continue our workforce development efforts so everyone who wants a job can find a job.

To learn more about the FSET program, click below.

Learn More >


It's almost here! Our sixth annual Governor's Small Business Summit is less than two weeks away.Tomorrow is the last day to register for this important event. Head to www.WisconsinSummit.com now before it sells out. We'll see you on Sept. 19 in Appleton.

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 signature

Governor Scott Walker

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