A state lawmaker says the results of an economic study should have Wisconsin taking a hard look at its competitiveness.
State Senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) was involved in the competitiveness study developed by Be Bold Wisconsin. He says the loss of 178,000 jobs between 2007 and 2009 were among the major findings of the report.
Hopper says nearly 43-percent of the jobs lost were in the manufacturing sector. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac says that should raise a red flag, because of the jobs bigger companies create. He says those often help support smaller businesses in the surrounding communities.
Hopper says the state has also created an unfriendly business climate and trade publications like Forbes magazine took note of that, ranked the state 48th last year for business environment.
Hopper says he agreed with most findings of the study, such as recommending the state have a public-private partnership for economic development. He says the study didn’t address the tax climate and the fact that venture capital goes to states that offer the highest return and the least resistance.