Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

For Immediate Release – Aug. 3, 2000
Contact: Richard Berg (608) 261-0713

MADISON – State officials today announced plans to hold a meeting of key state employers in September to help develop strategies for promoting economic growth in Wisconsin.

The Governor’s Office for Building Tomorrow’s Workforce is convening the meeting, which is expected to draw key private and public sector leaders from around the state to the Marriott Conference Center in Middleton on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

According to Dr. Richard A. Gartner, Special Assistant to the Governor for Building Tomorrow’s Workforce, "The Wisconsin Think-Tank Project for Economic Growth will be a major step in building a statewide consensus on what needs to be done to keep Wisconsin competitive in national and international markets." Dr. Gartner also stressed that this daylong event will be "a working session."

"We have many private and public sector leaders in Wisconsin who have creative and innovative ideas on strategies which will keep Wisconsin in the forefront of economic development, and this is the time for them to bring these ideas to the table," Gartner said.

Gov. Tommy G. Thompson added, "We have been hard at work in Wisconsin for more than 13 years in building a strong and vibrant state economy, and I am very proud of what we have accomplished, but we need to do more in the areas of economic and workforce development to maintain Wisconsin’s leadership position."

It is also expected that results from an informal survey of private and public sector leaders conducted over the past two months on workforce issues will be released around mid-August. The major issues identified in survey responses will provide the foundation for the discussion and work which will take place on September 6.

Information on the September meeting is available at the Office for Building Tomorrow’s Workforce, (608) 266-5352.

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