January 9

Unemployment Rate down to 4.3%

This week, the Department of Workforce Development released the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for August and preliminary estimates for September. The BLS reported that September's preliminary unemployment rate dropped to 4.3 percent from last month at 4.5 and is the lowest it has been since April of 2001. Our unemployment rate is one percent lower than it was a year ago and is considerably lower than the national unemployment rate of 5.1 percent. Additionally, the state's labor force participation rate of 67.4 percent in September outpaced the national rate of 62.4 percent.

I would also note that Wisconsin added 45,300 private sector jobs and 53,400 total non-farm jobs from September 2014 to September 2015. Wisconsin also realized significant year-over-year gains of 6,500 jobs in retail, 4,900 jobs in financial activities and 12,800 jobs in education and health services.

Indicators of the state of Wisconsin's economy include:
 Average Initial Unemployment Insurance (UI) claims for the first 40 weeks of 2015 dropped to the lowest point since 1990, and the annual average weekly continued UI claims are at their lowest levels since 2000.
 Department of Financial Institutions new business formation: The number of new business entities formed in Wisconsin in the first nine months of 2015 grew by 3.4% percent compared to same period in 2014. As of September 30, 2015, new business filings totaled 31,062, compared to 30,046 in the same period in 2014.
 Chief Executive Magazine ranked Wisconsin the "12th Best State for Business" in its annual survey of CEO's, an increase of 2 spots over the 2014 ranking, and a big increase over 2010, when the state ranked 41st.

Centergy Regional Legislative Roundtable

This week Monday, I attended the Centergy Regional Legislative Roundtable event in Mosinee. The event was an open discussion between business leaders, economic development partners, local officials and state representatives about legislative issues that impact our regional economies.

Particularly, we were asked to identify and discuss the specific initiatives concerning economic development that we supported and had been working on down in Madison. Two of the main intiatives I discussed were Broadband Expansion grants and FAB Labs, which I worked towards as part of the 2015-17 Biennium State budget.

I hear from so many people in my district about the importance of increasing broadband access. This accessibility is detrimental to businesses and the economy in the northwoods. The Broadband Expansion Grant Program is administered by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The program provides reimbursement for equipment and construction costs incurred while expanding or improving broadband service in rural areas of the state. In the 2015-17 Biennial Budget, the dollars for these grants tripled from $500,000 to $1.5 million each year.

Fabrication Labs or FAB Labs, are a new an innovative way to introduce students to fabrication, manufacturing, and technology. In the 2015-17 budget, a $500,000 grant was created for school districts to buy the necessary equipment for the state-of-the-art computer and manufacturing curriculum associated with the Fab Lab.

The Fab Lab initiative began as an outreach project at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has now expanded around the country and internationally. Fab Labs introduce students of all ages to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) technology and encourage development of digital and technical manufacturing skills. Several Wisconsin school districts have already implemented Fab Labs with great success, including Three Lakes and Stoughton. A new Fab Lab is also being opened in Florence County at the beginning of November.

I was joined at this event by Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan), Representative John Spiros (R-Marshfield), Rep. Bob Kulp (R-Stratford), Rep. James Edming (R-Glen Flora), Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst), and Senator Jerry Petrowski (R-Marathon).

Click here to view a short video of the Centergy Event.

DNR Outdoor Report

Much of northern Wisconsin is now past peak for fall colors and leaf drop has come on very fast with strong winds in the last week. The north is now awash in the golden hues of tamarack and burgundy of oaks. Peak colors are still being reported on the Wisconsin Department of Tourism's Fall Color Report through central and southern Wisconsin. Warm weather has seemed to extend the color season some, with some trees still sporting green leaves, so this weekend may offer some of the best viewing statewide.

A large number of hunting seasons open or reopen, so all people out enjoying the fall colors are encouraged to wear brightly colored clothing. State wildlife areas are being stocked with pheasants in anticipation of the opening of the pheasant season. Also opening are the southern grouse, quail, rabbit, fox, and raccoon seasons and the southern duck and goose seasons reopen.

Archery deer hunters are reporting some good success, especially in southern and central Wisconsin, and buck rubs and scrapes are increasing, indicating rutting activities are picking up. Some young bucks have left their bachelor groups and started to chase does. Southern Farmland Zone deer hunters are also being reminded that there will not be an antlerless-only firearm deer season during the Christmas holiday period in 2015. However, the Dec. 10-13 deer hunting season will be offered statewide in 2015 for all hunters with valid antlerless permits.

Low water levels on Lake Michigan tributaries continue to hamper fall salmon and trout runs. Some chinook and brown trout are being caught in most tributaries but so far fish have not run in huge numbers. Milwaukee River anglers report increased numbers of chinook and browns and chinook and coho salmon and brown trout were all reported in the Sheboygan River. Egg collection is going on at DNR facilities with more than 500,000 eggs collected from chinook salmon at the Root River facility.

On Green Bay, the perch bite is starting to get better for shore anglers at Oconto on the west shore and perch fishing was good at Sawyer Harbor and Little Sturgeon Bay on the east shore.

Walleye fishing has been picking up on Lake Wisconsin in Columbia County and some big panfish have been caught on the backwaters of the Mississippi River.

This Weekend's Events

October 23-25

6-11 pm

Haunted Sawmill-Arcane Asylum

The Haunted Sawmill

Merrill

Have a good weekend and enjoy the sunshine!

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