Wisconsin Receives National Award for Economic Development
Area Development magazine ranks Wisconsin one of the top states for job creation
MADISON, WI. June 7, 2016—Area Development, a leading national publication covering site selection and facility planning, announced that Wisconsin is a recipient of its 2016 “Silver Shovel Award,” which recognizes excellence in economic development.
“It is an honor for Wisconsin to be recognized as a leader in job creation,” said Mark Hogan, secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). “2016 Silver Shovel Award underscores the sound strategy we have in place to drive economic development in Wisconsin.”
Area Development’s Shovel Awards recognize the state economic development agencies – including WEDC – that drive significant job creation through innovative policies, infrastructure improvements, processes and promotions. In the competition, states are judged in categories determined by population. Wisconsin, Arizona, Indiana and Missouri won Silver Shovels for states with populations between 5 million and 8 million. Tennessee won the Gold Shovel Award in that population category.
The awards are made in recognition of economic development projects undertaken in 2015 that will create a significant number of high-value-added new jobs as well as capital investment. Among the WEDC-supported projects that played a role in Wisconsin winning the award are Exact Sciences Corporation’s $26.2 million expansion in Madison, which is expected to create up to 758 jobs, and Phillips-Medisize’s $35 million expansion, which is expected to create 484 jobs.
“The states and communities receiving 2016 Shovel Awards not only have the right combination of factors to attract and retain business,” said Geraldine Gambale, editor of Area Development. “They also display a pro-business attitude and marketing savvy. They deserve to be recognized for winning high-impact economic development projects.”
A report on the 2016 Shovel Award winners is published in the Q2/2016 issue of Area Development and posted online at www.areadevelopment.com/shovels.
About the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing and maximizing opportunities in Wisconsin for businesses, communities and people to thrive in a globally competitive economy. Working with more than 600 regional and local partners, WEDC develops and delivers solutions representative of a highly responsive and coordinated economic development network. Visit www.inwisconsin.com or follow WEDC on Twitter @_InWisconsin to learn more.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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There are only 10 states with population between 5 million and 8 million and 5 of them get a reward. One of those states in Minnesota. Minnesota has done much better than Wisconsin in job creation. It is very hard to understand how Wis. gets this job creation award but Minn. does not.