Economic Development

To enhance the work of the Waukesha County Center for Growth, the Alliance advocates for local, state and federal policies that support economic development, foster business growth and allow Wisconsin to remain competitive with other states. Because Waukesha County’s economy is inextricably linked to Milwaukee and the broader region, the Alliance is also an active participant in the efforts of the Milwaukee 7 to build a vibrant regional economy.

Areas of support

Support the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and its efforts to drive economic growth throughout the state.
Advocate for tax and regulatory measures that promote business expansion and retention and allow Wisconsin to be nationally and globally competitive.
Support preservation of Wisconsin’s Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit.
Continue to support the Foxconn project and seek opportunities for potential Waukesha County suppliers.
Promote the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as an economic development tool available to local municipalities.
Support and promote the launch of the Waukesha County Center for Growth’s Collaborative Loan Fund.
Serve as an advisor and advocate for the Waukesha County Center for Growth.
Promote expanded utilization of programs such as the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership’s ExporTech program to increase exports from Waukesha County and southeastern Wisconsin.

Talking points

As home to more than 12,000 companies and approximately 400,000 residents, Waukesha County ranks as one of Wisconsin’s most economically vibrant counties.
Waukesha County’s economic foundation is fueled by more than 232,000 employees who work at a diverse range of businesses, from Fortune 100 companies to sole proprietorships.
Manufacturing represents about 1 in 5 (20%) of jobs in Waukesha County, one of the highest concentrations of manufacturing jobs in the nation.
Since 2010, state has added 240,000 jobs, 48,000 in manufacturing.
The state’s tax burden is lowest in five decades (since 1963).
Wisconsin is one of only four states with a fully funded pension system.
Wisconsin ranks second among top states for “main street entrepreneurship,” which measures established small business activity – focusing on businesses more than five years old with less than fifty employees. Wisconsin has a survival rate of 50%, which measures businesses that remain in operation through their first five years.
With 95 percent of the world’s consumers located outside of the U.S., exports offer a significant opportunity for business growth. Wisconsin businesses exported $22.3 billion in goods and services to 202 countries in 2017. The state’s three largest export destinations are Canada, Mexico and China. Industrial machinery, electrical machinery, and medical and scientific instruments are Wisconsin’s biggest export categories.
Foxconn, a global leader in manufacturing services for the computer, communication and consumer electronics industries, is investing an estimated $10 billion to create its first North American manufacturing campus in Racine County, plus additional investments throughout the state. This represents one of the largest economic development projects in U.S. history and is a transformational opportunity for Wisconsin. The project offers significant opportunities for suppliers in Waukesha County and elsewhere in the state. Thousands of people are already working on the construction and public infrastructure work related to the project, and many more will be employed once the enterprise becomes fully operational. While this will likely pose some challenges in an already tight labor market, we believe the overall impact will be positive for the citizens and economy of Wisconsin.

Alliance builds partnerships with Governor-Elect Evers

December 27, 2018

We look forward to building partnerships with the new administration so we can ensure Waukesha County and southeast Wisconsin remains a great place to live, work and play.

Supporting Milwaukee’s bid for the 2020 Democratic National Convention

December 10, 2018

The Waukesha County Business Alliance supports Milwaukee’s bid to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC), which would provide an economic boost and national exposure for the entire region.

Governor Walker announces $5.1 million in Commute to Careers grants

October 29, 2018

Governor Scott Walker announced that 29 grants, totaling more than $5.1 million, have been awarded under the Commute to Careers program.

Schools are out for summer

June 11, 2018

Waukesha County schools wrapped up the school year last week. Below represents a portion of the Alliance’s work over the past year to develop our future workforce by connecting businesses and educational institutions: More than 400 students participated in 18 Schools2Skills tours More than 500 students toured the Health Care Career Expo More than 900 […]

Thinking differently about workforce

June 6, 2018

The benefits of hiring from outside your traditional candidate pool are numerous. Click to connect with resources to help you do that.

Waukesha County Center for Growth celebrates second anniversary

June 5, 2018

The Waukesha County Center for Growth celebrated its second anniversary last week. The Center for Growth is Waukesha County’s economic development organization, working to generate capital investment, create jobs and grow Waukesha County’s economic base.