Gov. Tony Evers says expand economic development to include affordable worker housing

Economic development in Wisconsin should mean more than just counting jobs — it could also include helping companies create affordable housing for employees, Gov. Tony Evers told a business group in Madison on Tuesday.

Evers said decisions on how to use state economic development funds should be “more nimble.”

“It can be around: Do you need affordable housing? We should use economic development more in a more holistic way,” Evers said.

The governor called on business leaders to get involved so that all of Wisconsin’s 72 counties can spur their economies....

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Ken Notes: For 12 years I have talked about more affordable housing. For 8 years I have asked WEDC and the state to work with counties to bring local ED professionals under the WEDC umbrella. I have advocated for incentives available to all businesses not just the "Foxconns" since well before foxconn was even a dream.

Now we need to understand the details. Home builders do not find enough profit margin is smaller affordable homes, so how do we encourage them to build them. Counties find funding their local ED professional(s) expensive and often cut professionals or programs to reduce costs while the State is silent on this issue. Medicaid expansion in not an economic development issue, not bad, just not ED. ED is stimulated buy reducing or offsetting cost to the employer, providing an educated workforce, eliminating delay, supplying investors and/or stability for bankers, and providing programs and services that save companies money.

Tony is saying the right things now he needs to focus on the challenges ahead because the solutions are the tough part.