MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin employers are continuing to face a considerable worker shortage right now, with close to 150,000 job positions across the state currently unfilled.
“Because Wisconsin’s population is projected to decline by nearly 200,000 people by 2050, we cannot sit on our hands and expect things to get better,” Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) said. “That is why a group of bipartisan lawmakers and I are circulating for co-sponsorship a bill that will help address these economic and demographic issues by establishing a talent recruitment grant program that aims to attract out-of-state households to Wisconsin.”
Under the initiative, interested local governments, tribes and certain nonprofit organizations can present detailed proposals to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. for persuading families to move to their communities. Those plans will include matching funds, household goals and estimated costs and economic impacts.
If awarded, the grants could be used for administering and marketing the incentives to out-of-state families, as well as for the incentives themselves. The grant recipients must demonstrate progress toward meeting their objectives in order to receive the full amount of funding.
“This investment will not only help our employers, but it will also provide a boost to our economy and our tax base,” Sen. Testin said. “These families that move to Wisconsin will be buying homes, attending our schools, patronizing local businesses, paying taxes and contributing to their communities in many other ways.”
Various studies indicate that each new household can generate more than $90,000 in economic activity each year.
The co-sponsorship period for the proposed legislation ends on Friday.
