WED AM News: Private colleges, universities had $5.4B impact in WI, report shows; Judge bars Trump administration from freezing EV infrastructure funds

January 28, 2026

— Private colleges and universities in Wisconsin had a $5.4 billion economic impact during the last academic year, a new study shows.

The Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities yesterday released its economic impact report covering the 2024-25 academic year.

Colleges in the association produced $2.71 billion in direct spending and another $2.72 billion in indirect and induced impacts, according to the report.

“This report underscores the essential role our institutions play in Wisconsin’s prosperity and the long-term health of our workforce,” WAICU President and CEO Eric Fulcomer said in a statement.

These institutions directly employ more than 18,600 faculty and staff in the state, and their direct expenditures related to faculty make up nearly $1.7 billion or 62.7% of the total expenditures figure for the year. In total, WAICU members generate and support 39,242 jobs statewide, the study estimates.

Other segments of their expenditures for the year include: operational spending, with $590 million or 21.7% of the total; students, with $219 million or 8.1%; and visitors with $204 million or 7.5%.

WAICU is also touting members’ contribution to the government, noting they led to $788 million in federal, state and local tax revenue during the study period.

Fulcomer notes many graduates of private institutions end up staying in Wisconsin, raising families in communities around the state. The estimated 236,116 grads that live in the state generate $41 billion in economic activity each year, according to the report.

“Employers consistently tell us they need more talent, including more nurses, health professionals, teachers, engineers, and data analysts. Our institutions are answering that call every day,” Fulcomer said.

WAICU commissioned the study from independent consultant Royal Dawson de Quiroz, a former assistant vice president with Columbia College Chicago who now works for the California Institute of the Arts. He’s created similar reports for private college associations in Illinois and Indiana.

See the report and release.

Listen to an earlier podcast with Fulcomer.

— A Washington State judge has barred the Trump administration from freezing electric vehicle infrastructure funds after a multistate coalition, including Wisconsin, sued the federal government.

The summary judgment from Judge Tana Linn of the Western District of Washington prevents the U.S. Department of Transportation from revoking previously approved state plans to build out new electric vehicle charging stations or withholding funds for those plans.

According to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the freeze threatened some $62 million Wisconsin was set to receive from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure formula funding.

“This ruling safeguards tens of millions of dollars for projects in Wisconsin against the Trump administration’s unlawful attack on this program,” Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a statement. “This outcome is good for jobs and clean air in Wisconsin.”

Linn ordered the administration to resume distributing the EV funds in June, four months after the DOT announced a temporary pause on EV funding and a month after 16 states and the District of Columbia first sued to unblock the funds.

See the summary judgment here.

— The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee has approved a $1.8 million funding request for call center technology upgrades at the Department of Safety and Professional Services, Gov. Tony Evers announced.

The guv’s office yesterday issued a release touting the committee’s decision to “finally release key investments” to reduce wait times at the agency.

It comes after DSPS made a supplemental budget request in October for technology upgrades, meant to help make up for reduced call center staffing that had slowed down operations.

A member of JFC had anonymously objected to the requested funding, according to Evers’ office, which says DSPS was never told the reason. But the agency was recently told that objection had been lifed, and after resubmitting the funding request, it was approved after a five-day passive review, the release shows.

“We wish it hadn’t taken this long, but we are excited that our request is now approved and we can continue to innovate and develop more efficient processes that build on our award-winning licensing systems,” DSPS Secretary Dan Hereth said in a statement.

The agency’s approved funding request includes updating call center software for faster call routing and better caller identification, deploying an AI chatbot pilot to handle the majority of calls, and adding six project support positions.

See the release.

— A bill from GOP authors would create a new type of local financing tool aimed at promoting the tourism industry.

Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp, and Rep. Dave Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, recently sent a co-sponsorship memo for LRB 2882/6083, which would establish a framework for Tourism Promotion Improvement Districts in the state.

Under the bill, a municipality or county could create a TPID at the request of hotel, motel and short-term rental owners that collectively represent at least half of the rooms within the proposed district.

Those owners would develop operating plans for infrastructure improvements and other activities the district would fund, as well as outlining sources of financing such as taxes on the participating businesses.

Political subdivisions would be allowed to levy these assessments on hotels and motels in the district to cover certain costs, including building or maintaining infrastructure that’s meant to boost overnight stays within the TPID. They could also pay for qualifying activities aimed at boosting tourism, including public events, economic development marketing, services for local hotels and motels, and more.

“TPIDs can be a useful tool for improving tourism within a community, funded by — and at the request of — hotels, motels, and short-term rentals, and they offer plenty of flexibility for these businesses to work with local governments to tailor plans to specific community strengths and needs,” authors wrote.

The legislation would also lay out the process for ending a TPID, as local governments could dissolve the district in case of “misappropriation of funds, malfeasance, or mismanagement,” the memo shows. The district could also be ended at the request of businesses in the district, as long as it comes from those owning at least 65% of the rooms there.

The co-sponsorship deadline is 4:30 p.m. Friday.

See the bill text.

— Circulating legislation would create new requirements for certain facilities using the designation of “memory care.”

Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood, and Rep. Dave Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, recently circulated a co-sponsorship memo for LRB-2924/1 and LRB-6118/1. They note Wisconsin currently doesn’t have a formal definition of memory care, and therefore has no standards for facilities using the term.

Quinn was contacted last year by a concerned constituent who learned after placing her spouse in a memory care facility that it wasn’t equipped to care for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, the memo notes.

“This individual is just one example of many stories we have heard where services being advertised did not meet expectations,” authors wrote.

Under the bill, only community-based residential facilities that serve clients with irreversible dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, would be allowed to use the term “memory care” in its name, advertising or other communications.

These facilities would need to meet new training requirements as well, including an introduction to types of dementia such as Alzheimer’s that covers disease progression, symptoms and the impact on patients and their caregivers.

Other required training would include “person-centered” dementia care, effective communication, behavioral interventions and drug alternatives, and how to support independence and quality of life for patients.

“As the population of individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementias continues to grow, it is important that facilities have the training and processes in place to help keep them safe and comfortable,” authors wrote.

The co-sponsorship deadline is 5 p.m. today.

See the bill text.

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