THU AM News: Families with young children more likely to face economic challenges, survey finds; WisBusiness: the Show with Dean Amhaus, The Water Council

February 15, 2024

— Families with young children are more likely to face economic challenges than others in Wisconsin, according to an analysis of UW-Madison survey data.

The university yesterday announced survey results from the La Follette School of Public Affairs, which found more than a third of surveyed families with young children struggle to cover monthly expenses, compared to less than a quarter of other households.

Meanwhile, 60% of families with young children said they weren’t confident they can handle an unexpected expense. For other households, the rate was 50%.

And 40% of families with young children say food insecurity is a concern, compared to 25% for all respondents. For low-income young families, the rate is near 66%, according to the university’s release.

Results come from the WisconSays/La Follette Survey, part of an opinion panel launched by the UW-Madison Survey Center in summer 2023. More than 3,500 state residents are enrolled in the state wide panel, the release shows.

The analysis was conducted by UW-Madison Prof. Sarah Halpern-Meekin, who found inflation and wealth inequality were the top two concerns for families with young children.

These families had similar levels of concern about income inequality as other households — 47% compared to 50%, respectively — but 75% pointed to inflation as a concern, versus 63% for others.

“While inflation has been coming down recently, these survey results show the price pressures families with young children have been under over the past several years,” Halpern-Meekin said in the release. “The early childhood period is one that comes with a lot of expenses for families, so they have felt the crunch of higher prices.”

See more on the survey.

— In the latest episode of “WisBusiness: the Show,” The Water Council President and CEO Dean Amhaus discusses the group’s role in a federal grant process that could lead to a national-level award for Wisconsin.

“What we really have done with this program is looking to what’s happening in industry, and what are the challenges that are occurring in industry, and how can universities help solve that problem,” he said.

The Milwaukee-based Water Council, the Wisconsin Technology Council and other partners last year announced they had been awarded $1 million from the National Science Foundation to plan a “regional innovation engine” in eastern Wisconsin. This industry cluster is focused on water and energy resilience for utilities and manufacturers.

This grant from the NSF’s Regional Innovation Engine program sets up the Wisconsin-based team to apply for up to $160 million in funding over 10 years at the end of the two-year development award, according to a release.

“So going through this process — and this is that connection of water and energy — how we can improve efficiencies as well as deal with those climate-related impacts, and reduce that so you’re sustainable over a long period of time,” Amhaus said.

The show also previews upcoming Tech Council events, including a Feb. 27 luncheon in Madison focused on 2023 early-stage investing in Wisconsin and the annual Wisconsin Tech Summit, being held March 18 in Green Bay.

Watch the episode.

— Froedtert ThedaCare Health has announced the groundbreaking for a $35 million hospital in Fond du Lac.

The facility is expected to be completed in 2025, according to the release. It has a smaller design at just 25,000 square feet, including space for emergency care, inpatient beds, patient scans and more. Milwaukee-based HGA and Miron Construction will handle architecture and engineering and construction for the project.

“Our goal of the new campus is to offer access to all levels of care, in one coordinated system – close to home,” Froedtert ThedaCare Health President Dr. Imran Andrabi said in a statement. “This campus naturally extends the trusted medical care we currently provide the people of this area.”

Medical care at the Fond du Lac location will be delivered by ThedaCare providers and the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin health network, the release shows.

Froedtert Health and ThedaCare officially finalized their merger at the start of this year, forming a health system with more than 22,000 employees and 3,400 providers.

See more in the release, and see designs of the project.

Top headlines from the Health Care Report…

— More than 80 employers and hundreds of jobseekers attended a recent community job fair in Eau Claire, held after Hospital Sisters Health System and Prevea announced closures in the region.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

Sign up here.

— Employers would have to cover up to 14 weeks a year of paid family and medical leave for their workers under a bill Dem lawmakers proposed.

The measure would also require employers to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave for either family matters or medical issues, and up to 14 weeks of combined leave. Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, yesterday argued nobody “should ever have to choose between care for themselves or a loved one and a paycheck.”

“Sometimes, a lot of times actually, in this body the majority party likes to talk about what’s going to help the workforce and our workforce challenges,” Hong said standing in front of more than two dozen lawmakers and advocates. “But the people behind me are the folks who are actually doing that work.”

The proposal would eliminate a carve out in current law that would exempt employers with under 50 employees from adhering to the proposed leave requirements. Leave for domestic abuse, stalking or sexual abuse survivors or family members of survivors would also be covered under the bill. Certain military family needs would also be covered.

Paid leave would provide 90% of a person’s average weekly income up to 50% of the state weekly wage average under the bill. Leave would also provide 50% of a person’s average weekly income for wages that are more than 50% of the state average.

The need for leave has become more important to support societal health and economic growth since balancing work and family life has been increasingly difficult, Sen. LaTonya Johnson said.

“This bill builds the bridge between individual well-being and collective prosperity, ensuring that no one has to choose between caring for themselves, their loved ones or financial security,” the Milwaukee Dem said. “It’s the foundation upon which healthier, more resilient Wisconsinites can grow. But more than that, it’s just good business.”

— Assistant Minority Leader Kalan Haywood criticized a trio of bills the Assembly approved seeking to ensure building projects can advance more quickly.

The Milwaukee Dem ahead of Tuesday’s votes pointed to a lack of funding for the Department of Safety and Professional Services to implement the changes.

“All three bills create new mandates for DSPS, but not a single one of these mandates were funded,” Haywood said.

The bills, which the chamber approved by voice vote, include:

*AB 197, which seeks to streamline the process by which DSPS examines building and plumbing plans. The bill includes measures to allow building owners to schedule a date for DSPS to review plans, allow building owners to identify for the agency any previously approved plans that are substantially similar to proposed plans and exempt certain plumbing plans from examination.

*AB 198, which would expand local governments’ authority to review commercial building plans by requiring DSPS to accept examinations by local units of government that aren’t appointed agents of DSPS as long as the plans meet certain requirements.

*AB 199, which would allow some construction while building plans are pending review. The bill would allow DSPS or a local government to authorize a building owner to start construction of underground plumbing and exterior plumbing, as well as footings and foundations.

The proposals came from the Joint Legislative Council Study Committee on the Commercial Building Permitting Process.

— Construction is now underway on the $82.3 million Rise Madison affordable housing project, developers announced.

The Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corp. in a release yesterday said the project will be completed in three phases running through October 2025. Two of the four buildings in the development will be ready for tenants by March 2025, according to yesterday’s announcement.

Once complete, the complex will have 245 units, including up to three-bedroom apartments and townhomes, the release shows.

“Rents are rising, the cost of owning a home is rising, and people don’t want to be displaced,” Madison Alder Amani Latimer Burris said in a statement on the project. “They want to be able to live and work in the city they love, so this is going to be one of those things that makes it happen.”

See more project details in the release.

Western Wisconsin health systems add capacity ahead of hospital, clinic closures

Generac projects a return to growth in 2024 after sales and profitability declines in 2023

TOPICS

ADVERTISING

– ‘American Pickers’ star Mike Wolfe and Leticia Cline appear in second Harley-Davidson video

AGRIBUSINESS

– Fork Farms to bring fresh produce to Marquette

– Family farms shine – key findings from Wisconsin census

CONSTRUCTION

– On the level: Adam Jelen steps in as president and CEO of Gilbane

– Foxtown Brewery’s downtown location clears another hurdle. Dog park work to start in spring.