— Gov. Tony Evers is hailing the news that Wisconsin’s tourism industry generated a record $23.7 billion in total economic impact in 2022.
That exceeds the previous record of $22.2 billion in total economic impact in 2019, according to the guv’s release. All 72 counties saw a boost in total tourism economic impact. Tourism last year supported 174,600 part- and full-time jobs and generated $1.5 billion in state and local tax revenue.
“This is tremendous news and a testament to the hard work of the business owners, workers, and marketing partners across the industry and our strategic investments to bolster the industry at an especially difficult time,” Evers said yesterday in a statement.
He said the state should continue to invest in tourism to ensure it can continue to play a key role in Wisconsin’s economy for years to come.
The state also saw 111.1 million visits in 2022, up by 8.8 million from 2021, or 8.7 percent. That includes 45.4 million overnight visits, up 13.8 percent from the previous year. The state saw a dip in tourism during the pandemic era.
Meanwhile, local tourism officials are also touting record economic impacts in their communities.
Visit Milwaukee yesterday noted the greater Milwaukee area saw more than $6 billion in economic impact from tourism in 2022, exceeding the previous record of $5.9 billion seen in 2019. Peggy Williams-Smith, the group’s president and CEO, says 2023 is “shaping up to be even better.”
“With an expanded Baird Center getting closer to completion every day and with all of the major events on the horizon in 2024, I’m hopeful this record won’t last long,” she said.
And Dane County saw nearly $1.4 billion in tourism impact last year, for a 29 percent increase over the year — the largest local increase in the state, according to Destination Madison. The group’s president and CEO, Ellie Westman Chin, praised the Madison area’s hospitality workforce and companies.
“The direct visitor spending increase is a year ahead of projections and is a testament to the time, money and aggressive focus we’ve put into attracting leisure visitors to Madison,” Westman Chin said in a statement.
See Evers’ release: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/35de620
See county-level figures here: https://www.industry.travelwisconsin.com/research/
— An Assembly committee has approved a slew of bills to tackle the state’s housing shortage, including one to stop people and groups from blocking local development projects.
The bill would require local governments to approve residential housing projects if the application is complete and the development meets existing requirements. It also specifies only a simple majority vote by a local government would be required to approve a development, with limited exceptions.
The measure passed 10-3 along party lines in yesterday’s Assembly Housing and Real Estate Committee executive session. Dem Reps. Jodi Emerson, of Eau Claire, Mike Bare, of Verona, and Ryan Clancy, of Milwaukee, voted no.
The committee also rejected along party lines an amendment from Bare to allow inclusionary zoning under state law.
State law defines inclusionary zoning as a zoning ordinance, regulation or policy that provides a specific number of new or existing residential units that must be available for rent or sale to a person or family with family income below a certain percentage of the median income.
See more at WisPolitics.com: https://www.wispolitics.com/2023/tue-pm-update-kaul-former-gop-rival-toney-urge-lawmakers-to-invest-in-crime-lab
— The Dairy Business Innovation Alliance has announced $2.3 million in new grant funding for 26 companies and co-ops, half of which are in Wisconsin.
This organization is a partnership between the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and UW-Madison’s Center for Dairy Research.
Funding comes from the DBIA’s Dairy Business Builder grant program, which supports small- to medium-sized dairy farmers, processors and entrepreneurs. Funded projects can include dairy farm diversification, on-farm processing efforts, value-added products and marketing dairy products for export. Reimbursement grants provide up to $100,000 each, according to a release.
“These grants have become an important factor in helping support the growth of our dairy businesses in our region as they continue to innovate by creating new products or expanding their markets,” said Center for Dairy Research Director John Lucey.
The 13 Wisconsin recipients include: Brunkow Cheese of Wisconsin, in Darlington; DARI of Clinton; Eau Galle Cheese Factory of Durand; Farm Stapels of Cedar Grove; Hill Valley Dairy of East Troy; Landmark Creamery of Belleville; Marieke Gouda of Thorp; Rolling Hills Dairy Producers Co-op of Monroe; Rosewood Dairy of Sturgeon Bay; Royal Guernsey Creamery of Columbus; Sartori Cheese of Plymouth; Uplands Cheese of Dodgeville; and Widmer’s Cheese Cellars, based in Theresa.
See the full list of recipients: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/dbia-awards-2-3-million-to-26-dairy-businesses/
— A total of $3.1 billion in public infrastructure investment has been directed to Wisconsin under the Biden administration, according to a new national data tool.
The White House is touting the state-level impact of federal legislation signed into law by President Biden, including the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act.
Meanwhile, private companies in the state have committed to investing more than $3 billion to clean energy and biomanufacturing industries since Biden has been in office, the data tool shows.
See more:
— The Marcus Performing Arts Center in Milwaukee has brought on Kevin Giglinto as the group’s new president and CEO.
With more than two decades of leadership experience in the performing arts world, Giglinto is set to lead MPAC starting in July. He previously was the vice president for strategy and special initiatives with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and led client development and marketing for the nonprofit arts group Tessitura Network.
“I’ve seen Milwaukee evolve and recognize the instrumental role Marcus Performing Arts Center continues to play in the changing cultural landscape of the city,” Giglinto said in a statement. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead the organization.”
See the release: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/marcus-performing-arts-center-announces-next-president-ceo/
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— Health officials in Milwaukee are urging residents to take precautions against mpox after identifying the first case of the disease in more than two months.
Meanwhile, Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin is warning of a “drastic drop” in donation appointments and critically low blood supply.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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#TOP STORIES#
# UW-Madison students design adaptive rowing machine for local company
# Frontdesk acquires Chicago based short-term rental company
# Giannis Antetokounmpo and brothers to open retail shop at Fiserv Forum
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin drought, Jackson raspberry farmer struggles: “I need water”
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=560&yr=2023
– Beef production, numbers and weights down yet retail prices remain high
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=561&yr=2023
– Management, planning key to forage quality and production
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=562&yr=2023
# CONSTRUCTION
– NorthRock Partners expands its footprint with new Milkwaukee office in the Deer District
# EDUCATION
– Madison school board could rescind staff vaccine mandate this month
– Join Finance Committee approves funds for UW-EC science building
# ENVIRONMENT
– Republican lawmakers propose plan to combat PFAS pollution in Wisconsin
– Residents urge lawmakers to give DNR more authority to address ‘forever chemicals’
# HEALTH CARE
– VA secretary urges veterans to apply for expanded benefits from toxic exposure
# SMALL BUSINESS
– Madison Adventure Tours invites visitors to see the city by e-bike
– Small business lending environment is getting worse, fast
# TOURISM
– 2022 was record year for Wisconsin and Milwaukee tourism
– Wisconsin generates record $23.7 billion in tourism for 2022
– Evers, lawmakers pledge financial support for revamped history, veterans museums
# TRANSPORTATION
– Milwaukee has a new bus route. Here’s where it’ll take you this summer – and where it won’t.
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
