A letter and Response

Hello Ken,

I find these very informative. As an FYI, local economic development organizations are growth facilitators and work with a variety of partners, not just WEDC. WEDC does not do local economic development directly, nor should they, but benefits from having a strong local EDO work with with. EDOs are also strong partners to universities, technical colleges, K-12, cities/towns/villages, county, SBDCs, utilities, etc. and these relationships are made stronger with a local EDO - without total reliance on the state.

Our organization is happy with many of the things that WEDC is doing, and value this partnership.

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Ken Notes: Jason Thank you for the note. I thought I would respond publicly since I believe you have outlined the role of the local economic development professional very well. In fact the mention of the Universities, Tech, k12, and Utilities are often forgotten, yet play a huge role in local economic development.

My goal to have local EDO`s partially funded by the State through WEDC in not to change this dynamic in fact I would hope to strengthen it. My observation is simply in times of budget tightening by a County or Municipalities EDO`s are often seen as low hanging fruit and cut or eliminated which I am sure we both agree is bad. By having the State help fund them especially in the area of benefits, I believe we can do much to preserve and strengthen local EDOs.

In exchange WEDC could help with the continuing education of the professionals serving their communities while local professionals could bring special needs to the attention of the State. Local EDO`s would continue to function locally with an even stronger relationship to the state. We also need to remove partisan politics from the equation..

If anyone reading my comments feels I am suggesting the State assume the role of local EDO`s my apologies because that is NOT what I would like to see. I am an advocate for partnerships, an art form totally lost in the current political climate. Thanks for reading and your note. Also Oshkosh in on a roll, congrats.

Ken