Economic Policy

A new federal investigation into China’s alleged unfair shipbuilding practices is the first step toward standing up to China and protecting the industry in Wisconsin.

A program meant to promote homeownership and empower low-income residents in Milwaukee has opened the door for 30 tenants in affordable housing to become homeowners. The Metcalfe Park Homeownership Initiative is a lease-purchase program in the Metcalfe Park neighborhood on the north side of Milwaukee. Thirty single-family homes were built 15 years ago on tax-foreclosed…

Foxconn has qualified for a third round of state subsidies for its development in Mount Pleasant, bringing the total amount it’s been approved to receive up to nearly $44 million. Last month, Foxconn was given notice it would receive a little more than $6.3 million in state tax credits for the 2022 fiscal year, down…

In her role as executive director of the Platteville Business Incubator, Kate Koziol said she learned there are no mistakes in the entrepreneurial world. “There’s just ideas that didn’t execute well,” Koziol says. “And you can retool it or refine it. You can always learn from something.” But, she added, rural entrepreneurs may sometimes feel…

Appleton International Airport this week broke ground on a $66 million expansion that will double the size of the airport and could boost its economic impact to $1 billion. Funded with the help of state, federal and regional grants, the 47,000-square-foot expansion of the airport’s main concourse is scheduled for phased completion beginning in late…

Teachers in Wisconsin’s largest school districts received raises this year that were higher than they’ve seen in a decade. But despite that hike, the median pay for teachers has fallen more than 12 percent since 2009 when adjusted for inflation, according to a new report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum. Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, president of the…

This year, Medicare will start negotiating lower prescription drug prices. But one Wisconsin insurance broker says people will have to wait a few years to see prices go down. The first 10 drugs to be made more affordable are widely used to treat blood clots, heart conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis and blood cancer. These…

Despite pressure from business leaders from across the state, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos this week held firm on the Legislature’s decision to withhold state funding for a new engineering building at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Vos, R-Rochester, tied funding for the engineering building with what he called staffing “bloat” within the…

Wisconsin discharges thousands of incarcerated people each year. A package of bills in the state Legislature aims to expand the amount of assistance those people receive while making the transition out of prison. At the state Department of Corrections, Ray Woodruff oversees existing efforts to provide reentry assistance. The agency promoted him to the role…

Despite global pressures in the last few years, Wisconsin’s economy remains strong — thanks in large part to the work ethic of its labor force. That was the message from state officials at the 2023 Wisconsin Economic Summit Monday in Appleton, hosted by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. While officials said the state economy is…