THE AGENDA: Legislative update by Steve Baas - Senior VP of Government Affairs After failing in their attempts to pass a business property tax hike last year, a coalition of legislators is back to try again this year. The so-called “Dark Store” bills they are pushing would empower local municipal assessors to double-tax businesses by allowing business value and profitability (which is already taxed by the state) to be included in the assessed value of their real estate for property tax purposes as well.
This tax assessor empowerment act is being pushed in the name of prohibiting businesses from lowering their property tax assessments by comparing new buildings with vacant or dilapidated properties. That justification is a myth, however, since such apples to oranges comparisons are already prohibited by state law. Over the past decade, commercial and manufacturing property owners in Wisconsin have seen a more than 2 percent increase of their share of the statewide property tax burden, while residential homeowners have seen a reduction in their share of the tax burden. MMAC will continue its fight against this proposed business property tax again this session. Now is no time to be giving local tax assessors more tools to burden the businesses that fuel their local economies. THE AGENDA: Legislative update by Steve Baas - Senior VP of Government Affairs
MMAC supports the growth of high-performing schools, regardless of their sector or governance structure. We hope legislators were listening to this powerful testimony -- and look for ways to expand, rather than restrict, high-performing education options in our region.
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.