Becoming a Top State for Business

Milwaukee, WI - Open Letter to Governor Scott Walker regarding 1st Meeting of WEDC - Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.

LOGISTICS
Milwaukee Professionals Association continues to weigh-in on how best to move forward ALL Hands on Deck, WE, Not Me Initiative.

The main thrust is to engage State Chapters of 118.01, 36, 38 and 39 for congruency of flawed practices and un-, under-trained/educated and un-, under-financed commercial ventures for Milwaukeeans to dislodge the strangling–grip of Enduring Concentrated Poverty that has the economy and the people “trapped”.

Secondly, the Apprenticeship program is a key indicator and Open for Business initiatives to spur neighborhood-level businesses for “economic affluence”. We have embraced the concept with a 21st Century revision to spur “critical mass” business performers in Milwaukee, expose “hidden talent” and “emerging markets” that will bolster the desired economy advantage.

In order for Wisconsin to hang out the "We are Open for Business sign" and gain economically, we will have to get our house in order and show that we are supporting the business opportunities locally that will help put in place a foundation for long-term profits and growth. It is not enough to make a couple of knee-jerk or surprising moves, we must put substance in the infrastructure.

Let's face it, businesses in and out of state are looking for states that are looking at their cost of services as a government entity. The more people at the helm, in-the-mix, experiencing opportunity to grow, the better it is.

The BOTTOM-UP plan expects education attainment, technology attainment, research and development through the 3-Tier Public School Systems (Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College, UW-Milwaukee Extension and UW-Milwaukee), drive “emerging markets” and “hidden talent” for partnerships with private schools and partnerships with state-of-the-art, case-by-case government resources for financial vetting at the neighborhood-level.

Federal Reserve and Forbes
Since report-after-report bear out the “by design” data of exclusion of African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged (un-, under-employed; un-, under-skilled; un-, under-financed businesses; disabled; and those re-entering; especially those returning from war, incarceration, boomerang employment and retirement), we have launched the All Hands on Deck, WE, Not Me Initiative.

Short-sighted and unwise leaders have engaged in policy-making and leadership that has EXCLUDED African American, other People of Color and the Work-Challenged. This makes no sense at a time of global focus and the growing population of People of Color. Not to mention, it is "unlawful" to discriminate against race and other protective classes.

MPA goal is to turn around the default that create such reports as the Forbes 42nd position for Milwaukee out of 42 positions for cities for entrepreneurism for People of Color, (http://blogs.forbes.com/joelkotkin/2011/03/31/the-best-cities-for-minority-entrepreneurs/) and the Federal Reserve and Brookings case study on Enduring Challenged of Concentrated Poverty, Spatial Mismatch (http://www.frbsf.org/cpreport/docs/cp_fullreport.pdf).

We have expectations for the Secretary and CEO Paul Jardin - WEDC.
As the ex-Mayor of Green Bay, he is expected to come to the table with neighborhood-level ideas for inclusion and immediate change.

As for the NEWLY organized WEDC body, we know that extensive training, clear rules to deter Conflict of Interest and cronyism; as well as annual evaluations that include their written report of what they have contributed and what is needed.