By Brian E. Clark
WisBusiness.com
MADISON – Following a controversy about leadership of capital city economic development, the head of Madison’s chamber of commerce is urging its members to participate in listening sessions that will help develop the first economic development plan in a quarter century.
Jennifer Alexander, head of the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, said she wasn’t sure if the recent controversy surrounding the appointment – and subsequent withdrawal – by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz of Bill Clingan as the city’s economic and community development director would stimulate more interest in the listening sessions.
“What I can say is that the business community has long been interested in this issue, well before this controversy,” she said.
“We have not had an economic development plan for 25 years. Now we will be able to map that out for the next few years.”
Alexander said the meetings offer an opportunity for business people to “share their experiences and offer their opinions on what role the City of Madison should play in promoting economic development in the next three to five years.
“Quality of life is certainly important, but economic develop has long taken a back seat in Madison,” said Alexander, who said she’s hoping many of the group’s 1,700 members go to at least one of the sessions.
“The fact that the city is now going to develop a plan is a real step forward,” she added.
She said input from the business community was instrumental in the past to assist Madison’s Economic Development Commission in identifying areas of concern to businesses and recommend changes to streamline the city’s approval processes.
Those findings were the basis of the EDC’s 2004 Report. See report at http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/business/documents/EDCBusinessRptFinal.pdf
“Your feedback at the upcoming sessions will be used to shape Madison’s 3-5 Year Economic Development Implementation Plan currently underway,” she said in an e-mail to members.
“Although each of the sessions will have a different focus, you are encouraged to attend any of the four sessions that is most convenient.”
To see dates and locations for the meetings, see: http://www.greatermadisonchamber.com/documents/FinalED%20Workshop%20Color%20Announcement%2011-12-07.pdf
Clingan’s appointment in September sparked protests from leaders in Madison’s business community, many of whom said Clingan – a top official at the state Workforce Development Department – was unqualified.
Clingan’s appointment also prompted the resignation of Mark Bugher and Tom Still from the city’s Economic Development Commission. Bugher is head of the University Research Park, and Still is president of the Wisconsin Technology Council.
They said the mayor should have picked Matthew Wagner, who heads the Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation, a southeast Wisconsin development group. He was the top choice of the selection committee.
Since Clingan’s withdrawal, the city council has approved splitting the economic and community development post into two positions, with one focused entirely on economic development – a move supported by many in the business community.
