Governor Scott Walker Announces Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit Registration is now open for the eighth annual Governor’s Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit, December 4-5 in Minocqua. The annual summit provides an opportunity to address the unique challenges and opportunities of Northern Wisconsin’s economy through a forum with the Governor’s Cabinet, keynote speakers, and a series of workshops. This year’s agenda includes information on workforce development, technology, and regulatory reform. “Growing jobs means listening to the needs of employers across the state,” said Governor Walker. “That’s why we’ve made workforce development and reforming government top priorities in order to help businesses grow and thrive. I look forward to more productive discussions on how we can continue moving Wisconsin forward, especially in Northern Wisconsin.” This event will be at The Waters of Minocqua. Registration for the two-day event is $75 through December 3 and $85 for on-site registration. The agenda and detailed information can be found at northwoodssummit. Agenda highlights include: Conversation with Leadership: Ten state agencies will provide an 8-10 minute briefing on key initiatives and issues from their Department and how those pertain to Northern Wisconsin. Time for open forum questions is provided as well as an informal “shirtsleeves” forum with agency leadership in the afternoon. General Session Keynote Address: Wisconsin Department of Revenue Chief Economist John Koskinen will discuss the economic outlook for Wisconsin over the next three years, including trends affecting northern Wisconsin. Workforce & Business: Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Chief Labor Economist Dennis Winters will present on the northern Wisconsin labor market, outlining current trends, and issues. Other representatives from around the state will share resources available to employers to fill available jobs and train skilled workers. Natural Resources & Businesses: Wisconsin’s chief state forester will share how Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the federal government are working together to tackle Wisconsin forest issues to keep timber moving in the Northwoods. Tourism & Business: Leaders from the Department of Tourism will show how to complete a destination self-assessment, a project designed help destinations understand how they are perceived by their customers, what attracts visitors to their community, strengths, challenges, and the development needed to advance their tourism economy. Data Privacy & Business: Leaders from Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will share how to ensure data privacy and security for Wisconsin businesses, including information on Wisconsin’s data breach notification law and what personal information is covered to protect businesses and their customers. Broadband Expansion & Business: Public Service Commission’s Broadband team will answer questions about the Broadband Expansion grants that have been awarded in the Northwoods and their impact on economic development in the Northwoods. Regulatory Reform & Businesses: Directors from the Office of Business Development, part of the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and known as the “concierge service for business,” will share how the organization works to give business a voice in guiding government reforms and support business interests from within government. Freight Trains & Businesses: High Priority Freight Network will discuss specific regional and major commodity freight movement opportunities, along with freight generators and oversized-overweight considerations to help connect regional businesses to the freight network and rail systems.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 19:18:30 +0000