Statement by the Department of Commerce Regarding Assembly Bill 476

For Immediate Release: October 8, 2009
Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

For further information, legislators may call Zach Brandon, Executive Assistant, Department of Commerce 608/266-8976, and reporters may call Tony Hozeny, Communications Director, Department of Commerce, at 608/267-9661.

If anyone is looking for a roadmap of the state's economic and business development efforts, it can be found in Governor Jim Doyle's most recent budget. Through the budget process, from the budget repair bill to the signed budget, Wisconsin enacted some of the most powerful economic development tools in the country. These programs are designed to grow the Wisconsin's economy, to create jobs, and spur new investment in and by Wisconsin companies.

The Sponsors of Assembly Bill 476 are invited to view our annual economic development report, published every October 1 in accord with Act 125. The updated report was placed on the Commerce website just one week ago at www.commerce.wi.gov/BD/BD-Act125-2009.html.

The Department of Commerce continually studies and improves its recruitment and retention methods. There should be no doubt about that fact. The agency's recent success with the consolidation of Mercury Marine, the expansion of Oshkosh Corporation, and the recruitment of over a half dozen out-of-state technology companies is proof positive of our state's competitive business climate and the efficacy of our economic development programs and strategies.

Commerce does not publish its specific strategies for good reason. Our efforts are usually in competition with other states and countries, and our incentive packages are carefully reviewed by companies around the nation and around the world. Requiring a report for the "competition" to see would be harmful to the state's efforts.

That is why the legislative request for this report was vetoed in the budget.

Building Wisconsin's economy and creating jobs will not be accomplished by calling for reports. Real action is required. We have spent the last year developing and enacting the following new economic development initiatives. Ironically, all of the bill's sponsors voted against them:

• EXPANDING the Powerful Enterprise Zone Tax Credits
• CREATING an Aggressive Jobs Tax Credit for Significant Job Creation
• SIMPLIFYING and CONSOLIDATING Wisconsin's Tax Credit Programs
• DIVERSIFYING Communities with New Development Opportunity Zones
• ENCOURAGING Research and Development with a New Super R&D Tax Credit
• DEVELOPING New Opportunities for All Dairy Manufacturing Facility Investments
• MODERNIZING and BUILDING Wisconsin's Meat Processing Facilities
• LEVERAGING Investment in Wisconsin Start-up Businesses
• BOLSTERING Biotechnology and Manufacturing Research and Development
• ENHANCING the Nation's Most Effective Early Stage Investment Tax Credits

-30-