Todd Frederick

As I stated yesterday, I'd like to inform you all on my views of popular topics and issues in relation to running for Assembly. The 2nd topic I'd like to address is supporting our community businesses.

The community businesses here in the Northwoods are the backbone of our local economies and have been underserved in Madison for a long time. While tourism is important to many of our areas and will continue to be, local manufacturers provide the living wages our citizens and local retailers have come to rely on.

However, it has been difficult to grow and maintain a competitive edge due to the decreasing skilled labor pool, and for new start-up businesses, a lack of funding and support services. I see the state helping in many ways, but the focus should be primarily on:
• Increase funding to our public schools for tech. ed. Classes. These are the skills needed to fill positions in our manufacturing areas.
• Develop an effective marketing campaign that will show how great Wisconsin is in ALL four seasons that we have, not just cold winter. We have a lot to offer that would help recruit qualified people to fill the highly skilled and professional level positions we have available.
• Make sure broadband is available everywhere.
• Develop an effective method of supporting start-up businesses. This should be a location that will aid and direction with business structure, taxes, where to find insurance, and what insurance and funding, which can include everything from low-interest loans to angel investors.
• The state needs to help with legal immigration. There are thousands of immigrants that are willing to work, and we need them. Let’s find a way to properly vet them and get them here.
• The State needs to “Buy Wisconsin”.

Thank you