Economic Development
Workforce developers: Area businesses step up to improve education system
Gus Ramirez embarked on one of the most ambitious projects of his philanthropic career earlier this year when he pledged to make a $60 million investment in improving education in Milwaukee with the development of a new K-12 school on the city's south side.
Concerned about the future workforce of his company, Waukesha-based HUSCO International Inc., and fed up with the performance of Milwaukee Public Schools, Ramirez made a bold proposal to play a more direct role in improving education in Milwaukee.
His proposed school, Augustine Prep, has garnered as much criticism from public school advocates, teachers' unions and charter school competitors as it has support from those who understand his vision. Much of the criticism stems from competition among schools to draw students and, with them, public funds.
“I believe this is something God wants to happen and He's given me enough nudges, opened up enough doors, created enough options for us to be successful that I think He's had a hand in this process,” said Ramirez, who serves as executive chairman of HUSCO. “If I didn't feel that, we wouldn't be doing it.”
Concerned about the future workforce of his company, Waukesha-based HUSCO International Inc., and fed up with the performance of Milwaukee Public Schools, Ramirez made a bold proposal to play a more direct role in improving education in Milwaukee.
His proposed school, Augustine Prep, has garnered as much criticism from public school advocates, teachers' unions and charter school competitors as it has support from those who understand his vision. Much of the criticism stems from competition among schools to draw students and, with them, public funds.
“I believe this is something God wants to happen and He's given me enough nudges, opened up enough doors, created enough options for us to be successful that I think He's had a hand in this process,” said Ramirez, who serves as executive chairman of HUSCO. “If I didn't feel that, we wouldn't be doing it.”
The two Milwaukees
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…”
– Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
– Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Metro Milwaukee economic indicators improved in June
Sixteen of 23 metro area business activity indicators improved in June, down from 17 in May, according to the latest monthly economic trends report from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
Metro Milwaukee economic indicators improved in June
Sixteen of 23 metro area business activity indicators improved in June, down from 17 in May, according to the latest monthly economic trends report from the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.
MU Law Poll: Residents from three states support regional cooperation
Residents of northeastern Illinois, northwestern Indiana and southeastern Wisconsin overwhelmingly support cooperation among leaders when it comes to economic development, according to a new Marquette Law School Poll.
German manufacturer moving sales, service facility to Racine County
The Racine County Economic Development Corporation announced that a German hand tool manufacturer is locating a regional sales and service facility into the Town of Yorkville's Grandview Business Park.
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Milwaukee Institute to expand offerings with $750,000 WEDC grant
The Milwaukee Institute, a nonprofit computational research center, will add to its computing offerings and facilitate more training courses with a $750,000 grant it has received from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.
Mid-year Economic Forecast: ‘Be a swashbuckler’
Multiple signs are pointing to an increasing pace of growth for the American economy in the second half of 2015.
Bubbler Quote of the Week
“Companies continue to stretch their people beyond what is reasonable and quite frankly, sustainable. Companies are still doing more...
On the Money: Working beyond normal retirement age has its advantages
Many Americans are staying in the workforce past their normal retirement age. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, more than 30 percent of individuals between the ages of 70 and 74 reported income from earnings in 2010 (the latest year data is available). Among those ages 65 to 69, nearly 49 percent reported employment income.
