THU AM News: Evers appoints Dem donor and investor to lead WEDC; Westby Cooperative Creamery getting $15.5M USDA loan

December 4, 2025

— Dem Gov. Tony Evers has appointed John W. Miller to serve as secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

Miller is a former Universities of Wisconsin regent. But Senate Republicans refused to confirm the appointment after Miller vocally opposed a deal the system cut with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, to freeze diversity, equity and inclusion positions.

Miller formerly served as president and CEO of Miller-St. Nazianz Inc., his family’s agricultural equipment manufacturing business. A decade ago, he founded Arenberg Holdings LLC, a venture capital fund in Milwaukee.

Miller, a major Dem donor, replaces Missy Hughes, who resigned from the post this fall to launch her bid for guv.

Miller has donated more than $600,000 to Dem and liberal campaigns and groups since 2013, according to the database maintained by the state Ethics Commission. That includes $26,500 to Evers’ campaign between 2017 and 2021.

“From investing in our workforce and higher education to bolstering entrepreneurs and budding businesses to leveraging public and private partnerships, John understands what it takes to build the 21st-century economy Wisconsinites need and deserve, and I have no doubt that his leadership will help us continue our work toward a stronger future for our state and communities across Wisconsin,” Evers said.

In a statement on his appointment, Miller noted WEDC has had a “record year” for investments. The state agency contracted for 320 tax incentives, grants and loans in fiscal year 2025, totalling $91.5 million, according to an earlier release.

“I have every intention of using my experience in the business community to continue that success into 2026 and beyond,” Miller said.

See the announcement.

— The state’s only cottage cheese maker, Westby Cooperative Creamery, is getting a $15.5 million federal loan to expand and update its manufacturing operation.

That’s according to a USDA announcement, which says the project will boost the company’s cottage cheese yield by up to 15% using the same amount of milk, while halving production time to 8 hours. The agency highlights rising demand for cottage cheese as a driving factor behind the project.

The company plans to install four large cheese vats, two cream tanks, a new 30,000-gallon milk silo and other equipment for refrigeration, cleaning and more. Other elements of the project include adding automation and better air filtering.

Funding comes from the Rural Development Business and Industry Guaranteed Loan program.

See more here.

— Wisconsin would establish a new program to support health professionals struggling with addiction, mental health issues and other conditions under legislation being circulated for co-sponsorship.

The bill from Sen. Dan Feyen, R-Fond du Lac, and Rep. Robert Brooks, R-Saukville, aims to provide a voluntary, confidential way for clinicians to “stabilize their health” and keep their careers amid a worsening health care labor shortage.

That’s according to a co-sponsorship memo they sent yesterday to other lawmakers, which says the program aims to prevent “unnecessary” license loss.

“With persistent provider shortages affecting every corner of our state — especially rural communities — Wisconsin cannot afford to fall behind,” bill authors wrote. “Healthcare workforce shortages continue to intensify, and we are losing too many skilled professionals to burnout, untreated health conditions, and the stigma associated with seeking help.”

Under the bill, the state Department of Safety and Professional Services would contract with an organization to create and operate a health professional assistance program. It’s meant to help those dealing with health conditions that could affect their ability to “practice with reasonable skill or safety,” according to an overview from the Legislative Reference Bureau.

The “non-punitive” program would include processes for determining eligibility, coordinating care and related monitoring, protecting confidentiality, and intervening in certain situations when further treatment is needed or program terms are violated. It would be funded by a $70 fee on health care providers whose credentials are served by the program.

Along with a provision allowing credentialing boards to participate in the program, the legislation also specifies that health care providers and these boards can report people to the program if they’re suspected of having a condition that could hinder their work.

Those reports would have to be assessed by those running the program to determine if the reported provider should be evaluated for potential treatment or other actions. Providers deemed eligible for the program would be given the option to voluntarily participate.

While doctors are currently required to report patterns of unprofessional conduct or medical incompetence among their colleagues to the Medical Examining Board, the bill would allow them to fulfill that legal obligation by reporting to the program instead, LRB notes. That’s only if the board is participating in the program with respect to physician credentials.

Other provisions would provide immunity from civil liability for the program and participants in certain cases, according to LRB.

Authors note Wisconsin is one of just “a handful” of states without an official Health Professional Assistance Program, or HPAP. They say such programs play an important role in workforce retention and patient safety, helping to identify problems earlier and helping clinicians safely return to work.

The co-sponsorship deadline is Friday.

See the bill text.

— Legislation from GOP authors would require insurers to submit claims data to the Wisconsin Health Information Organization.

Sen. Mary Felzkowski of Tomahawk, as well as Reps. Dave Maxey of New Berlin and Bob Donovan of Greenfield, this week began circulating a co-sponsorship memo for two bills establishing policy and funding for the proposal.

The WHIO collects health care claims information from insurers, which is then used by employers, other insurers, health care providers and others. It’s operated as a public-private partnership, managing the state’s all-payer claims database since 2008, according to the memo.

Employers can use this APCD information about claims data to “identify high-cost areas, measure quality metrics, and negotiate better prices” for health plans, authors say.

Bill authors note many insurers already provide claims data to the WHIO. The legislation would create a new requirement for them to do so, while also requiring the WHIO to make the data available in an online dashboard and in a machine-readable format.

“These bills strengthen Wisconsin’s healthcare data infrastructure so Wisconsin’s employers and policymakers have access to consistent, comprehensive, and actionable information to tackle our state’s high cost of healthcare,” they wrote.

The co-sponsorship deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 12.

See the bills for policy and funding.

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.

— The latest episode of “Talking Trade” features the third segment of a recent live panel discussion, featuring insights on how tariffs have impacted Eaton Corporation and its supply chains.

Watch part 3 here. See coverage from the event, held at Waukesha County Technical College’s School of Business, here.

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