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Business Title: Wisconsin’s stock rising Twenty fourth and counting. What most Wisconsinites and Beloiters already knew is becoming known coast-to- coast — that Wisconsin is a great place to work, live, go to school and do business. Now, hundreds of business leaders nationwide are becoming believers too. Wisconsin jumped from the 41st best business climate in the U.S. to 24th in a survey of 550 chief executive officers conducted by chiefexecutive.net, an online publication for business executives. The survey was conducted Jan. 14 through Feb. 1. Wisconsin’s business climate improved more than any other state in the survey, Kurt Bauer, president and CEO of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, said. “The improved ranking is proof that the nation’s top business leaders have noticed that Wisconsin is no longer in denial about the seriousness of its budget difficulties and is finally addressing the root cause of the problem, too much spending,” Bauer stated in a written release. “The ranking also appears to acknowledge recently enacted reforms to improve the regulatory climate for business, most notably by reducing frivolous lawsuits.” The survey rated the states on taxes and regulations, workforce quality and living environment. Wisconsin drew its highest ratings for workforce quality and living environment, and saw room for improvement in taxes and regulations. “Today’s report confirms my optimism that Wisconsin’s best days are still ahead,” said Diane Hendricks, chairman of ABC Supply in Beloit. “ABC Supply’s national headquarters are in Beloit and a greater positive perception of the state of Wisconsin on the national level is a win for Wisconsin and a win for all of us at ABC.” Wisconsin made the greatest leap in the survey moving up 17 positions followed by Louisiana which climbed 13 spots in the rankings and Indiana which shot up 10 spots. Illinois fell three spots from 45th to 48th. Alaska fell the farthest in the rankings down 10 spots to No. 31. So why is a survey like this important to the business economy of the state? Bob Borremans, executive director of the Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, explains. “Businesses look at these kinds of surveys very closely when they make decisions to expand, improve and grow their operations,” Borremans said. His board monitors and helps drive business opportunities and jobs in a six county region, including Rock County. “To improve as much as we have is a big accomplishment,” Borremans said. “Wisconsin has not fared all that well in those types of statistics.” Borremans said, traditionally, other areas have done much more to attract and retain businesses that Wisconsin has. He sees that changing with a state government that is focused on the needs of business and industry. Those efforts are paying off across the state and locally in terms of more jobs, Borremans said. “It is moving in the right direction,” Borremans said, as he talked about unemployment dropping in the state and a slowly rising number of jobs being created. “I am very optimistic about what is happening this spring and by mid-summer and into the fall. Our department conducted a survey and we see in the range of 2,000 jobs being created by the first of September, with as many as 1,200 of those jobs in the Rock County, Beloit-Janesville area.” Many of the private sector jobs being created are in manufacturing, healthcare, food processing, distribution, logistics and even construction may be showing signs of improving. “Like all business people, I have a responsibility to make decisions that are in the best long-term interests of our employees and our customers and across the country it increasingly looks like having your company in Wisconsin is a sound business decision,” Hendricks said.
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