MADISON, Wis. (WXCE) — The Wisconsin State Senate is continuing their focus on encouraging job creation and economic development. As part of the initiative, the Senate Committee on EconomicDevelopment and Commerce has scheduled a number of economic development round tables around the state, including one in Menomonie October 12. State Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) says we are seeing positive economic growth in the state. “We are seeing some positive growth. Our unemployment rate is about half of what it was back in 2011. We’re about 4.6% unemployment right now, and obviously, we want to continue to lower that. We’re well below the national average.”
Harsdorf says the state is moving in the right direction. “We’ve seen some tremendous increases in rankings where places like the CNBC Poll that ranks friendly business states. We were ranked 29th back in 2010. Now we’re ranked 15th. Chief Executive Magazine also does a ranking. Wisconsin has risen from 41st back in 2010 to now being ranked 12th.”
The 10th District Senator from River Falls says Minnesota businesses just over the river from her district are taking a look at moving to western Wisconsin. “We’re seeing in this part of the state a lot of interest that we’re hearing from our economic development folks, interest from Minnesota businesses taking a look at if they’re going to relocate, taking a look at western Wisconsin and so that’s good news for our workers here and it’s good news for our state.”
by Kurt Mayer, WXCE
