The Blueprint for Economic Prosperity, 2007-2009

A New Perspective Four years ago, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) drafted its Blueprint for Economic Prosperity, a groundbreaking public policy agenda to empower the Milwaukee Region to compete successfully with other regional economies.  Our liabilities and assets are tied to a common balance sheet.  To significantly improve the bottom line of this balance sheet, we have integrated our public policy agenda with our economic development efforts under the Milwaukee 7 campaign.  This partnership of Southeast Wisconsin counties is providing us with a new, reinvigorated perspective. To develop our platform for 2007-2009, the Association's leadership participated in a comprehensive survey to define the most critical objectives.  This input will guide our efforts and drive our resources – your investment dollars – toward building a strong economic foundation for the region. To view more detailed information, please click on the catagories below. View the updated 2007 Review/2008 Priorities.

Education Education reform again tops our list of public policy goals.  The region cannot succeed without a workforce that meets the demands for innovation, creativity, productivity and knowledge.  The Association's leadership ranked these factors as a priority or high priority: Electing an independent school board (91%) Expanding and strengthening the Milwaukee Parental School Choice program (89%) Guaranteeing business representation on the MATC Board (84%) Infrastructure A solid infrastructure is a must-have for regional development.  MMAC has advocated for a number of projects that will ensure we have the roads, transit, air and water service necessary to accommodate future growth.  According to our survey, the following projects ranked as principally important: Accelerating the reconstruction and expansion of the Zoo Interchange (83%) Creating a regional airport authority (81%) Eliminating diversions from the state transportation fund (81%) Also critical is the need to create an urban transit strategy and implement science-based water quality and supply solutions. Taxes Taxes and regulations, while showing gradual improvement, remain a liability to the retention and attraction of companies and talent.  Chief among our concerns: Ensuring state consistency with federal standards (96%) Repealing the personal property tax (79%) Holding all units of government spending at the rate of inflation (76%) Health Care Finally, health care continues to be a cost burden for most employers in the region.  Our prescriptions lie with these priorities: Improving the health care system's cost and quality transparency (100%) Creating a state tax exemption for Health Savings Accounts (89%) Pursuing equitable Medicare and Medicaid funding for the state (88%) Recently, MMAC's Health Care Subcommittee created a website to educate employers on the factors impacting costs and to promote consumer-driven health care and wellness programs.  We need a groundswell of informed consumers to turn the tide on double-digit cost increases. Economic Development All of these issues and more determine our region's assets and liabilities.  To make the most of those assets and actively reduce our liabilities, we needed an economic development strategy.  Through the Milwaukee 7 we have developed new tools, including a regional website focused on attraction and retention of companies and talent; a resource and presentation center; a targeted industry call program; and a marketing team.  All of these tools will be guided by our economic positioning strategy, to be deployed in April, 2007. This new perspective of an integrated public policy agenda and economic development campaign brings with it an enhanced ability to determine our future, to knock down those barriers to a competitive environment and to reach new heights as a region.  I extend a special thanks to my fellow board members for serving on our Blueprint Teams.  They help make this vision a reality.

MMAC Blueprint Briefing Series Hosted by the MMAC Legislative Committee, the Blueprint Briefings spotlight trends, define emerging issues and facilitate productive interaction between the public and private sectors to promote sound and innovative policy solutions. The series will also provide members with exclusive access to the people behind the issues of education, infrastructure, taxes, health care and economic development in our community.  Times and locations may vary. Check your mail for updates or online at www.mmac.org/calendar   Interested in sponsoring the Blueprint Briefing Series? Gain exposure to an exclusive group of business leaders through the Briefings marketing and events.  For more information, contact  at (414) 287.4131 or jgranger@mmac.org Read or view previous meetings: ALL-MEMBER MEETING EDUCATION HEALTH CARE