We know a strong Wisconsin workforce is a diverse one – one
that celebrates and promotes the unique abilities and talents of all employees,
including those with disabilities.
In 2014, we invested $850,000 to expand the number of Project
SEARCH sites in Wisconsin from seven to 27. During the two most recent federal
fiscal years, Wisconsin helped a record 9,500 individuals with disabilities
overcome barriers to employment with the help of programs like Project SEARCH.
In the most recent federal fiscal year alone, 4,615 people
with disabilities entered Wisconsin’s workforce, helping to drive the state’s
disability employment rate up to 41.2 percent. I’m proud to announce our great
state now ranks among the top ten states in the nation when it comes to
employing people with disabilities.
We know workforce development programs like Project SEARCH
are a win for individuals with disabilities and a win for employers. Looking
forward, we will continue to invest in programs like these that remove barriers
to work, promote employment for individuals with disabilities, and move
Wisconsin forward.
On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to tour the progress of the
new Bucks arena at the construction site in Milwaukee, and boy, is it coming
along! The progress is exciting, and we look forward to watching the Bucks play in their new, state-of-the-art arena during the 2018-19 season.
This is a win for Wisconsin. In fact, for every dollar the
state is investing in the Bucks arena project, the taxpayers will see a return through income tax revenue.
The bottom line is that through our private/public plan,
we’re protecting our hard-working taxpayers against the major loss in tax
revenue that was inevitable if the Bucks had moved out of state.
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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