Program Elements of Building the New Wisconsin Economy
This exciting new initiative features: 1) a research component focused on reviewing and examining existing economic development research and proposals; 2) a series of public forums exploring the data and issues surrounding the core elements most experts agree are essential to Wisconsin’s economic revitalization; and 3) an unprecedented statewide news media focus on economic development that will enhance our understanding of the major economic development issues by reporting on how those issues affect people and businesses community by community.

Forum 3: Economic Development: The Business Equation – An examination of what it will take to rejuvenate and/or sustain Wisconsin’s current businesses and to attract and grow new businesses.

This forum will look at the major economic engines of Wisconsin’s current economy in terms of what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to, and can be, fixed. It will also examine potential growth sectors and take a close look at geographic and cultural factors (e.g., rural vs. urban, small town vs. big city, Chicago–Milwaukee–Madison corridor vs. Minneapolis–Eau Claire–La Crosse corridor).

The purpose of this forum is to shed light on what factors account for a thriving business community, what sorts of new business development make the most sense for Wisconsin, and what changes, if any, need to be made to do both as quickly as possible.