Wisconsin Has 3rd-Lowest Business Start-Up Rate In Country, According To Census Data

Wisconsin ranks third-last among states in business startups, according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau data.

According to the data, about 5,700 businesses with employees were created in Wisconsin in 2012, which constitutes less than 6 percent of all Wisconsin firms. Only Iowa and West Virginia had lower rates for the year.

This isn’t the first data ranking that put Wisconsin relatively low in startups, but Gov. Walker says in the last year, the state has put more time and money into venture capital funding.

“Because we’ve taken action, I believe that in the next few years you’re going to see a tremendous uptick in terms of new startups and scale-ups. Because they’re going to have access to the kind of capital that previously was just available to Boston and the west coast,” said Walker.

Walker said Wisconsin’s venture capital efforts have not been fully deployed yet.

A spokesperson for Democratic candidate for governor Mary Burke said that Wisconsin’s business start-up rate is abysmal. Burke’s campaign says the state needs a new direction, including more support for small businesses.