THE AGENDA: Legislative update by Steve Baas - Senior VP of Government Affairs One of the keys to having a competitive climate for economic development is a regulatory climate that creates consistency, certainty and efficiency. Currently, city codes do a good job at this, with the Common Council creating broad development parameters and the City Planning Commission (CPC) reviewing project specifics to ensure that they adhere to the standards set by the Council.
A newly proposed ordinance moving forward in City Hall would add unnecessary new layers to this process by empowering the Common Council to conduct its own review and approval of project specifics. By MMAC President Tim Sheehy
MMAC encourages students to apply for $5,000 Holloway scholarships |
MMAC President Tim Sheehy | Yesterday you may have seen a number of news reports related to the Foxconn development, including: “Foxconn Reconsidering Plans to make LCD panels in Wisconsin.” This and other headlines related to Foxconn's plans understandably caught a lot of attention. As reported, some comments made by Louis Woo, Special Assistant to Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou, looked like a sharp deviation from what had been expected: “In terms of T.V., we have no place in the U.S., we can’t compete...” Louis has communicated with me and stated in subsequent news reports that Foxconn has not shelved its commitment to invest in Wisconsin. He did note that due to the dynamics of their industry, the company is considering which thin-film-transistor technology to build in Wisconsin. |
David D. Haynes, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
One answer to the shortage of computer science workers and instructors may be getting both students and teachers up to speed earlier in the process. That's the idea behind a 10-year-old Microsoft program called TEALS, which is now in 34 Wisconsin schools. (Photo: Raimond Spekking / Wikimedia Commons) | See that phone in your hand? Someone wrote the code that lets you use it to post to Instagram or Twitter or tell a Snapchat story. Someone wrote the code that allows you to text or share photos or recipes. Problem is, right now we don’t have enough of those someones. In a widely cited statistic, there are expected to be 1.4 million computer science jobs open in the U.S. by 2020 but only 400,000 computer science grads with the skills to do them. In Wisconsin alone, there were recently 7,000 open computing jobs, according to Code.org, which advocates for more computer science training. That yawning skills gap could mean fewer innovations down the road — or that the next big thing gets developed elsewhere. And it could mean millions of dollars of lost economic activity. >>more |
By Tim Sheehy - President of MMAC
“65% of the jobs our children will apply for don’t exist today” - Becky Frankiewicz President of ManpowerGroup N.A. | This issue of Milwaukee Commerce looks into the future make-up of the region’s economy. Disruptive technologies, shifting demographics and new business models all converge to cloud that picture. Living with change seems to be the only place to live. >>View Milwaukee Commerce winter edtion |
MILWAUKEE…The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) has updated its interactive Milwaukee County school quality map to include academic results from the 2017-18 school year.
“This web-based tool provides parents and policymakers alike an interactive way to easily identify and quantify quality education options throughout the metro area,” said MMAC President Tim Sheehy.
“This web-based tool provides parents and policymakers alike an interactive way to easily identify and quantify quality education options throughout the metro area,” said MMAC President Tim Sheehy.
MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC),
in collaboration with Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing
& Productivity, Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the state’s regional economic
development organizations is hosting five informational workshops throughout the state on supply
chain readiness.
The Supplier Readiness Series will include information to help manufacturers respond to industrial
innovation trends that are impacting the industry, including updates to statewide resources
designed to help improve productivity, prepare for Industry 4.0 and establish a path for global
competitiveness.
in collaboration with Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Wisconsin Center for Manufacturing
& Productivity, Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the state’s regional economic
development organizations is hosting five informational workshops throughout the state on supply
chain readiness.
The Supplier Readiness Series will include information to help manufacturers respond to industrial
innovation trends that are impacting the industry, including updates to statewide resources
designed to help improve productivity, prepare for Industry 4.0 and establish a path for global
competitiveness.
The Wisconsin Policy Forum has released a new comprehensive study of charter school funding in Milwaukee. The Forum’s study: A Teachable Moment, understanding the complexities of charter school financing in Milwaukee, contains a wealth of data and insights into the growing independent charter school sector and how it interacts within the overall Milwaukee education landscape.
View several key takeaways that MMAC believes can help start a much-needed discussion on substantive policy changes needed to improve educational performance for all children in Milwaukee:
View several key takeaways that MMAC believes can help start a much-needed discussion on substantive policy changes needed to improve educational performance for all children in Milwaukee:
By MMAC President Tim Sheehy
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A democracy functions best when its participants have good information. The heart of good policy is an honest, respectful and direct exchange of ideas.
A big part of MMAC’s value proposition is providing our elected representatives at the local, state and federal levels with good information — information that is transparent, accountable and fair. Legislative leaders, policy makers and their respective staff are more capable decision makers when they are informed. |
MMAC affiliates play key role in redevelopment of Grand Theatre, Wisconsin Ave.
Three MMAC affiliates – the Milwaukee Development Corp. (MDC), the Milwaukee Urban Strategic Investment Corp. (MUSIC) and the Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee Development Corp. – have played significant roles in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s efforts to redevelop the Grand Theatre into its new home, working with the organization to purchase and secure control of the cinema and neighboring properties. |
Milwaukee Tool is expanding again in Brookfield, with plans to build a $32 million R&D facility - a project expected to create 350 new jobs.
The company has purchased a 3.5-acre site near its current facility that will house an advanced manufacturing research and development facility and office space. The 114,500-square foot, multi-story building is expected to be completed by late 2019.The company plans to create 350 jobs at the facility over the next five years - primarily engineering and software positions with an annual average salary of $75,000.
The company has purchased a 3.5-acre site near its current facility that will house an advanced manufacturing research and development facility and office space. The 114,500-square foot, multi-story building is expected to be completed by late 2019.The company plans to create 350 jobs at the facility over the next five years - primarily engineering and software positions with an annual average salary of $75,000.
The June 28 ceremonial groundbreaking for Foxconn's future 22-million-square-foot manufacturing and research campus included (from l to r): Governor Scott Walker, President Donald Trump, Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou, and House Speaker Paul Ryan in Mount Pleasant.
The team effort to win the project included the MMAC and Milwaukee 7 Economic Development Partnership (M7) together with key partners at state and federal levels. It is the largest economic development win in Wisconsin's history. The campus is expected to employ 13,000 workers, making Foxconn the largest private-sector employer in the state.
The team effort to win the project included the MMAC and Milwaukee 7 Economic Development Partnership (M7) together with key partners at state and federal levels. It is the largest economic development win in Wisconsin's history. The campus is expected to employ 13,000 workers, making Foxconn the largest private-sector employer in the state.
Also in this issue of the MMAC Insider eNewsletter:
- Foxconn welcomes community to open house at Opus facility
Leading-Edge Zero Liquid Discharge System Will Significantly Reduce Water Intake from Lake Michigan and Virtually Eliminate Industrial Discharge
On June 13, 2018, MMAC's Policy Hash series featured Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, who continues to emerge as one of the chief architects of Milwaukee's future. >>View video of event |
In a continuing effort to grow exports throughout the region, The Milwaukee 7 Regional Economic Development Partnership (M7) launched the Export Development Grant Program presented by JPMorgan Chase in November 2015. The highly-successful program provides financial assistance to small and medium enterprises, both new to export as well as experienced exporters, to enter into new or grow existing international markets. This week JPMorgan Chase announced that they are providing an additional $100,000 to the Milwaukee 7 to continue to benefit companies throughout the region.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – More Milwaukee-area students will have the opportunity to learn computer science in the 2018-19 school year, thanks to Microsoft Corp., a personal donation from Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, and the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC).
County Executive Chris Abele is contributing $250,000, together with a matching commitment from Microsoft Philanthropies, to expand Microsoft’s Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS) program, which helps high schools build and grow sustainable computer science programs through partnerships between classroom teachers and technology industry volunteers.
County Executive Chris Abele is contributing $250,000, together with a matching commitment from Microsoft Philanthropies, to expand Microsoft’s Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS) program, which helps high schools build and grow sustainable computer science programs through partnerships between classroom teachers and technology industry volunteers.
By Steve Baas - Senior VP of Governmental Affairs, MMAC
For the first half of the year (and actually long before that) MMAC partnered with a coalition of business leaders and the state DNR on the EPA’s new proposed Ozone rules. In the late 2000s and the early 2010s, we worked with the EPA, DNR and local businesses to get our region out of the “non-attainment zone” classification for Ozone. If you are “non-attainment” it triggers growth restrictions and regulations on a region that limit economic competitiveness – especially in manufacturing – and add millions in additional utility costs. Because of the progress we made as a region in clean air, we achieved “attainment” status earlier this decade.
Near West Side Partners, Inc. (NWSP) was formed three years ago as part of an unprecedented public-private partnership to revitalize and sustain Milwaukee’s Near West Side as a thriving business and residential corridor. Led by five of Milwaukee’s most recognizable organizations – Aurora Health Care, Harley-Davidson, Marquette University, MillerCoors and Potawatomi Business Development Corporation – the partnership is working to celebrate and enhance this historic part of Milwaukee. Their efforts have included innovative programs to promote commercial corridor development, a nationally recognized public safety approach that has resulted in double-digit decreases in crime, new neighborhood identity and branding, and programs to promote better housing.