St. Croix EDC: Seeks legislative issues – Issues can be submitted online or at an open house event

St. Croix EDC is asking businesses and individuals to suggest legislative issues for the 4th annual United St. Croix Valley Legislative Days event in Madison next February.

Issues can be submitted two ways – online at http://www.unitedscv.com/suggestissues.htm or in person at an informal open house on Thursday, September 25, 2008 in the lower level conference room of the New Richmond Civic Center, 156 East First Street, New Richmond WI starting at 7:00 pm.

Legislative ideas collected at the meeting and online will be pared down to four or five issues. They will be presented to legislators, cabinet secretaries, and the governor in Madison in early February 2009.

Since 2006, the county EDCs from Polk, St. Croix, and Pierce have led citizen advocates to Madison to promote legislative priorities on behalf of the St. Croix Valley. The event is called United St. Croix Valley Legislative Days and is modeled after similar initiatives across the state, including Superior Days (Northwest Wisconsin) and Oktoberfest in the Capitol (La Crosse area).

United St. Croix Valley attracts 40-45 citizens from the three counties each year. They meet with state representatives and senators and advocate the passage of specific legislative issues.

“The border region of Polk, St. Croix, and Pierce is one of the fastest growing in state,” said Patti Robertson, chair of the EDC’s legislative committee. “This growth creates many issues that need to be conveyed to a wide audience of state officials. It is far more effective working together with Polk and Pierce counties under one banner and we anticipate having a positive impact on proposed legislation in 2009.”

For additional information on the open house or the legislative event, please contact William Rubin, Executive Director, St. Croix EDC at (715) 381-4383 or bill@stcroixedc.com