Conveners of the 2010 Wisconsin Economic Summit Series released its “Be Bold: The Wisconsin Prosperity Strategy,” a new roadmap for state economic development, to Governor-elect Scott Walker.
The comprehensive strategy plan includes recommendations for the new governor, administration and the 2011-13 Wisconsin State Legislature on the critical issues related to creating jobs, jumpstarting and growing Wisconsin’s economy and addressing the state’s major financial challenges and opportunities. The plan is the culmination of three statewide economic summits held this summer and fall, discussions with leading economic development experts, and studies and commissions spanning the last 30 years.
Elected officials, business leaders, educators, economic development specialists, small business owners, taxpayers, and entrepreneurs and policy-makers from around the state participated in the Economic Summits and planning discussions that examined how to reduce unemployment and energize Wisconsin’s ability to grow and maintain a strong economy along with strategies on how to strengthen Wisconsin’s job creation capacity and improve the state’s competitiveness as elected officials and policy-makers approach the 2011-13 Wisconsin State Budget.
The 2010 Economic Summit Series, convened by the University of Wisconsin System, Competitive Wisconsin Inc., the Wisconsin Technology Council, the Wisconsin Way and the Wisconsin Higher Education Business Roundtable, created a platform for the strategic thinking and discussion necessary to develop a comprehensive plan that combines the “best of the best” in economic development planning and addresses all facets of the state’s current economic challenges and opportunities.
“This bold vision for a prosperous state economy represents the best thinking of Wisconsin’s economic development experts,” said John Torinus, president and chief executive officer of Serigraph Inc. and one of the leading authors of the strategy. “It is a focused, guiding roadmap for the new administration and legislature and offers an opportunity to follow the direction of some of the brightest minds and comprehensive research compiled within one plan.”
Tom Hefty, retired CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council co-authored the report with Torinus, as well as more than 75 individuals who participated in the series and contributed to the “Be Bold” document.
Highlights of the plan include:
- Creation of a $1 billion Wisconsin Prosperity Fund used for investment in start-up Wisconsin companies focused on innovative technologies.
- Allowing utilities more flexibility in funding economic development.
- An evolution of the current statewide network of angel investment groups to a network that includes more early-stage funds and could include investments from pension or public funds, such as SWIB or the proposed Wisconsin Prosperity Fund.
- Restore Wisconsin capital gains exemption to 60 percent.
- Support and execute an economic development cluster strategy in Wisconsin, in part, by creating a policy council for each existing cluster, with members selected from the exporting industry, the governor’s cabinet, the UW System and private colleges, the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS), and the supporting service sector, and an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist in the field.
- Create additional interdisciplinary technology centers in partnerships among universities and with private companies.
- Raise the percentage of four-year degree holders, in part, by facilitating graduation in three years and with four-year guaranteed degree programs.
- Enact legislative and administrative changes to allow the UW System to more quickly adapt academic offerings, market-based tuition rates, financial aid programs and administrative policies to the economic strategy of the state.
- Creation of a lean government commission to consolidate and improve state and local government processes, to save money and improve outcomes for customers, namely the citizens of the state.
- Charter an independent job creation board to replace the Department of Commerce.
- Strategic investment in the state’s infrastructure, which includes a recommendation to segregate fuel tax revenues for road and transit construction.
- Realignment of reimbursements to health care providers by paying for health care services based on quality, efficiency, cost effectiveness and service rather than volume.
Summit Series participants, planners and strategy authors also recommend a metrics of goals and outcomes from which to measure our leadership and develop a report card that informs the citizens of the state on the performance of their leaders. Grades would be handed out annually on progress against these metrics, based on the “Be Bold” strategists’ firm belief that the citizens of the state deserve accountable leadership that restores the historic economic prosperity of the state.
“We can and must reinvent our economy. We have the tools and resources to do it; we have the roadmap within the “Be Bold Strategy;” now we need the leadership,” said Scott VanderSanden, president of AT&T Wisconsin and Summit sponsor. “It is time to move Wisconsin forward; we are done with the conceptual phase; now we must execute this strategic vision.”
The 2010 Wisconsin Economic Summit Series is sponsored by Alliant Energy Corp., American Transmission Company, AT&T Wisconsin, Aurora Health Care, Baker Tilly, MillerCoors, Wood Communications Group, Competitive Wisconsin, The Wisconsin Credit Union League, Wisconsin Builders Association, Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin Economic Development Association, Wisconsin Hospital Association, Wisconsin Realtors Association and the Wisconsin Technology Council. n
More details of the “Be Bold: The Wisconsin Prosperity Strategy” are available at www.wiroundtable.org/summit.
