Gov. Doyle: Signs CORE Jobs Act, bills to create jobs, grow economy

Contact: Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

GREEN BAY – Governor Jim Doyle today signed into law nine bills, including the CORE Jobs Act, at Enzymatic Therapy in Green Bay.

“My Administration’s top priority continues to be helping businesses create jobs and giving workers the opportunities to get those jobs,” Governor Doyle said. “I am happy to sign these bills into law, and build on our ongoing efforts to help businesses create jobs in Wisconsin. The CORE Jobs Act will help spur angel and venture investments, taking good ideas and inventions from labs in Wisconsin to the global marketplace. The bills expanding our very successful Enterprise Zone program will strengthen one of the strongest economic development tools in the country.”

Senate Bill 409, the CORE Jobs Act, creates and expands a number of tax credit programs, grant programs, and loan programs aimed at jobs creation and economic development. The bill builds on Governor Doyle’s Accelerate Wisconsin plan by providing millions more in tax credits for angel and venture capital investments. It also strengthens successful programs for manufacturing, research and development, and worker training. Governor Doyle exercised his partial veto authority to ensure parity between angel investment and venture capital before signing the CORE Jobs Act into law.

Governor Doyle thanked Senators Lassa and Kreitlow and Representatives Molepske and Cullen for their work on the bill.

Governor Doyle also signed two bills expanding the successful Enterprise Zone program. The program was expanded in the Governor’s most recent budget, creating some of the strongest economic development tools in the country. The Enterprise Zone program is credited with creating and retaining thousands of jobs in difficult national economic times at companies like Enzymatic Therapy, Mercury Marine, Republic Airways, ACCO Brands Corporation, the Herman Miller Company, Actuant Corporation, and A&E Incorporated.

Assembly Bill 768 authorizes the Department of Commerce to designate two additional Enterprise Zones, increasing the number from 10 to 12.

Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Garthwaite and Dexter and Senators Kreitlow and Coggs for their work on the bill.

Assembly Bill 864 creates an additional Enterprise Zone tax credit for up to one percent of the amount paid for goods and services purchased from Wisconsin vendors.

Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Zigmunt and Barca and Senators Hansen and Taylor for their work on the bill.

Governor Doyle also signed the following job creation bills into law:

Assembly Bill 532 provides funding to award grants to community development corporations from the Department of Commerce to establish capital access programs

Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Barca and Jorgensen and Senators Holperin and Wirch for their work on the bill.

Assembly Bill 749 creates a refundable tax credit for equipment used to harvest or process woody biomass.

Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Clark and Friske and Senators Holperin and Kreitlow for their work on the bill.

Assembly Bill 771 awards grants to Wisconsin Workforce Development Associations from the Department of Commerce to support meetings and career guidance workshops.

Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Hraychuck and Garthwaite and Senators Hansen and Taylor for their work on the bill.

Senate Bill 121 establishes a “Career Conversations” pilot program for students in grades 7 through 12 at the Center on Education and Work at the UW-Madison.

Governor Doyle thanked Senators Lassa and Taylor and Representatives Berceau and Sinicki for their work on the bill.

Senate Bill 624 expands the authority of political subdivisions to make residential energy efficiency improvement loans, and authorizes political subdivisions to make water efficiency improvement loans and impose special charges for the loans.

Governor Doyle thanked Senators Lehman and Sullivan and Representatives Fields and Soletski for their work on the bill.

Today, Governor Doyle also signed Assembly Bill 725, which provides instruction in CPR, cardiocerebral resuscitation and use of external defibrillator to high school students.

Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Zigmunt and Berceau and Senators Hansen and Carpenter for their work on the bill.