Chippewa Economic Development Corporation has a primary role of being a Chippewa voice that promotes and supports the interests of economic development at the local, state, and national level. This includes the responsibility for advocating with elected officials, other state policymakers, key community leaders, and regional business organizations.
Through the CEDC Legislative Committee, chaired by Dr. Lona Cook-CEDC takes a proactive approach to working with the members of the Wisconsin Legislator and others within state government whose actions and decisions impact our state and local business climate and its ability to recruit new employers and help entrepreneurs grow. CEDC’s legislative committee goals are to provide leadership, advocacy, and education to foster economic growth and resiliency within the Chippewa Valley. We work with our partners like the Wisconsin Economic Development Association, Momentum West, and area Chambers of Commerce to advocate for policies, initiatives and programs that promote job creation, encourage investment and result in economic prosperity throughout the Chippewa Valley.
CEDC legislative priorities center around (1) Enhancing Our Competitive Posture, (2) Workforce Development & Innovation, (3) Product Development and Site Readiness, (4) Strengthen the Local Economic Development Ecosystem, and (5) Address Wisconsin’s Housing Shortage
CEDC supported the following: Assembly Bill 302. This legislation created a sales and use tax exemption for equipment or software used by eligible data centers for the processing, storage, retrieval, or communication of data. This important economic development legislation provides critical tax incentives to encourage hyperscale data center investment in Wisconsin. In addition to the significant economic impact of data center development, a strong data center market can help attract a high-tech talent pool to the Chippewa Valley. Data centers development also leverages the area’s strong broadband infrastructure. Without these tax incentives, the development of large-scale data centers was unlikely to occur in Chippewa and the rest of the state.
Wisconsin Act 14 that creates a residential housing infrastructure revolving loan fund program, allowing a residential housing developer to apply to the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) for a loan to cover the costs of installing, replacing, upgrading, or improving public infrastructure related to workforce housing or senior housing.
Wisconsin Act 15 which Creates a main street housing rehabilitation revolving loan funding program, allowing an owner of rental housing to apply to WHEDA for a loan to cover the costs of an improvement to workforce housing to maintain it in a decent, safe, and sanitary condition or to restore it to that condition.
For more information about CEDC’s legislative efforts and goals reach out and give us a call.