Wisconsin's governor unveils $100M Milwaukee investment plan
BYLINE: Sean Ryan
Declaring Milwaukee the cornerstone of a healthy Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle rolled out a more than $100 million plan to improve the city's schools, workers and businesses.
"The future of the entire state of Wisconsin rests on making sure Milwaukee succeeds," Doyle said at Milwaukee's Elm Creative Arts Elementary School on Wednesday. "As the state's largest city, Milwaukee also faces some unique challenges and unless our entire state joins together to meet those challenges, our entire state will suffer. "
Doyle's plan for Milwaukee, which will be part of his state biennial budget proposal, has almost 40 different action points. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett welcomed the plans, and urged city leaders to go to Madison in the coming months to support them.
"Milwaukee is not a drain on the state," he said. "Milwaukee is a resource for the state of Wisconsin. "
Doyle wants to give Milwaukee Public Schools $15 million to improve math scores and graduation rates. The city's youth apprenticeship program, which prepares high school students to become apprentices, would get $2.2 million, double its current funding.
There's also $8 million for a plan to link state technical colleges to area businesses to better ensure 36,000 workers are prepared for jobs. Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman said industries that would likely be early targets are advanced manufacturing, health care, technology, biotechnology and the skilled trades.
"These investments are going to help us make sure in Milwaukee and Wisconsin that our workers have the skills they need," she said. "That's going to keep families healthy. "
Research dollars
To foster the city's biotech industry, Doyle wants to invest $8 million in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Research Growth Initiative, which is meant to increase UW-M's research reputation and help it work with area businesses.
Doyle's biotech plans also include $2.5 million for the Biomedical Technology Alliance, a collaboration between five area universities that encourages its researchers to work together. Thomas Bray, dean of applied research at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, an alliance member, offered the example of MSOE's engineering experts making strides in new medical devices by working with Medical College of Wisconsin staff. The state has already invested $35 million in the effort.
"It encourages researchers to get together and think about what we can do together," Bray said. "We have already proven, we think, in the first round (of funding) that we have done well. "
Doyle also wants to set aside $1 million to pay for engineering work for the proposed Milwaukee-Racine-Kenosha passenger rail service.
On top of that, he'll support giving the state the bonding authority to fund track improvements that would allow Amtrak's Hiawatha Service, which links Milwaukee and Chicago, to also connect Milwaukee and Madison. Department of Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi said the roughly $400 million project hinges on Wisconsin receiving federal funds. With that in place, it could issue bonds for around $45 million or $50 million for the state's local contribution.
"If we could get the dollars we could probably extend the Milwaukee-to-Madison in three years," he said. "Eventually, that'll hook us up from Madison up to Minneapolis. "
On top of all that, Doyle wants to pitch in $21 million for property tax relief in Milwaukee by giving more money to the Milwaukee Parental School Choice Program.
"We're in a position to make some investments that we weren't able to make two years ago," Doyle said. "This is all part of a budget that will be balanced, that will have very tight limits on property taxes. "
Doyle said out-state legislators' traditional opposition to funding programs targeting Milwaukee is softening, and that the Milwaukee 7 regional collaboration group is helping with that. Doyle also wants to give $500,000 to that group.
"It's getting easier, but I still think it's a challenge," Doyle said.