There is little question that Wisconsin’s business climate is looking brighter every day.
In 2010, just 10 percent of the employers surveyed by the statewide chamber of commerce thought Wisconsin was headed in the right direction. Today, 95 percent of them feel that way. After losing 133,000 jobs and 27,000 businesses during the four years before I took office, more than 100,000 jobs have been created over the last three years, and the state has experienced a net gain of 15,000 businesses in that time. Private-sector job growth from April 2013 through the end of the year was the best since 1994. More people are working, more employers are hiring and personal income is up nearly 4.5%.
By enacting pro-business policies, Wisconsin has turned the page on double-digit tax increases and billion-dollar deficits. Instead, the hard-working taxpayers now see budget surpluses and some $2 billion in tax relief.
These fiscal improvements alone are not enough to ensure sustained economic growth for our state, however. Building upon our state’s many strengths in order to adapt to new market challenges requires collaboration between a proactive state government, industry and education leaders, and economic development partners at the regional and local level. That is why I am so optimistic about Wisconsin’s future. The unmatched work ethic of our citizens combines with a world-class university and state-of-the-art technical education system to put Wisconsin at the forefront of new industry advancements.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is proud to work with BizTimes Media to celebrate the attributes of Wisconsin’s economy that help companies succeed here. In the pages of WisconsinBiz, you will find many stories of innovative businesses bringing new solutions to market right here in our state. You will also find information on the programs and resources available to help companies looking to start, expand or relocate operations here. I encourage you to take full advantage of the experts and business development tools featured in this publication to maximize the potential of your company.
Wisconsin has made significant strides in the last few years, and I look forward to working with you to continue building a prosperous future.
Yours sincerely,
Scott Walker, Governor
