Baldwin legislation would extend unemployment and work-share before July deadline, create New Deal-style publicly subsidized jobs program, begin climate transition, improving racial equity, and revitalizing rural areas.

Illinois Company is latest to invest in Kenosha County. Advent engineers and manufactures high-precision tooling products sold to customers worldwide.

MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers today joined the owner and president of Advent Tool & Manufacturing, Inc., as well as local government and economic development officials, to announce that Advent is relocating its headquarters and production operation from Antioch, IL to the new Salem Industrial Park, located in the Village of Salem Lakes. 

“This is great news for the Village of Salem Lakes and the southeast region of Wisconsin, bringing new opportunities to folks and communities in our state,” said Gov. Evers. “I want to thank Advent, the WEDC, the Milwaukee 7, and all the local officials for their critically important work in making this happen. The partnerships and relationships these folks have been able to build truly exemplify why Wisconsin is such a great place to live and work.” 

Advent engineers and manufactures high-precision tooling products sold to customers worldwide. Founded in 1974, Advent supplies to companies in a wide variety of industrial verticals, including transportation, electrical components and systems, defense, energy, and telecommunications. The company will occupy 25,000 feet of space in a new building currently under construction in the Salem Industrial Park. Advent expects to employ 23 workers at the Salem Lakes location by 2022. The company’s workforce is comprised primarily of skilled machinists.

“We are proud to call Wisconsin our new home,” said Advent Owner & President Jim Hartford. “The state is an ideal location for our business, providing a stable and business-friendly environment to support our growth plans. We are excited to write Advent’s next chapter in Wisconsin and to join the impressive list of manufacturers already in the state.” 

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is supporting the relocation by authorizing up to $100,000 in state income tax credits over the next three years. The actual amount of tax credits Advent will receive is contingent upon the number of jobs created during that period.

“We welcome Advent Tool & Manufacturing and thank the company for its decision to relocate its operations into our state,” said Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s lead economic development organization. “This investment is a testament to the strength of our manufacturing industry, business climate, and outstanding workforce.” 

Located just west of State Highway 83 on Wilmot Road, the Salem Business Park is situated 10 miles west of I-94. To date, 26 acres are developed or under development, leaving 40 acres for future projects. Advent is the second company from Illinois to relocate to the park, joining Vonco Products, which relocated in 2017. 

“The Salem Business Park was developed with companies like Advent in mind,” said Heather Wessling Grosz, vice president of the Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA), which was among the lead partners in recruiting Advent to Wisconsin. “This new facility will be a showcase for customers and a safer, more productive environment for employees.”

Advent is receiving a warm welcome from other local officials.

“Kenosha County is excited to welcome Advent Manufacturing to the Salem Business Park and is looking forward to being a partner to them going forward,” said Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser. “We’re happy to celebrate a new company coming to Kenosha County; it’s a great reminder that our community is a great place to do business.”

Michael Murdock, village administrator for Salem Lakes, stated that “now more than ever, it’s important to have good companies providing living wage jobs in our community. The Salem Business Park was an innovative partnership between our community, KABA and Kenosha County, and we’re excited to see it become what it was intended to be. We welcome Advent to Salem Lakes and wish them much success in Kenosha County.”

The Milwaukee 7 (M-7) regional economic development organization also worked to attract Advent.

“We’re thrilled that Advent has chosen southeastern Wisconsin for this significant investment,” said M-7 Vice President Jim Paetsch. “Advent is precisely the kind of company that we want and can well support.  The company’s decision to invest here highlights – once again – our success in attracting new companies to Wisconsin.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/highway-const-zoo-s5.jpgProject expected to create between 6,000 and 10,000 jobs in Wisconsin.

Janesville area farmer brings real life perspective to the DATCP Board.

MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers today announced the appointment of Doug Rebout to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Board. Rebout is a partner in Roger Rebout & Sons Farms near Janesville. The farm includes over 4,200 acres of cropland, 280 Holstein and crossbred steers, and 400 custom-raised heifers. Rebout is actively engaged in public and community service, currently serving as the president of the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association and as a member of the Governor's Task Force on Climate Change.

“From trade wars to difficult weather to a global pandemic, Wisconsin farmers have persevered through many challenges in the past several years. Doug is not only familiar with those challenges, but he is an advocate for productive solutions,” said Gov. Evers. “I am proud to appoint Doug to serve on the DATCP Board.”

The DATCP Board is comprised of citizen members appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature. Board members serve on the policy-making body in six-year terms.

“As a family farmer in southern Wisconsin and a strong voice for our state’s diverse agriculture industry, Doug brings a valuable perspective to the DATCP Board. I look forward to working with him in this new capacity,” added DATCP Secretary-designee Randy Romanski.

“I am humbled and honored that the governor has asked me to serve on the DATCP Board,” stated Rebout. “I look forward to joining my fellow board members in serving Wisconsin’s agriculture, trade, and consumer protection communities.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/coronavirus-masks2-nyc-s5.jpgMore than 2 million cloth face masks and 4,200 infrared thermometers going to K-12 public, charter, and private schools throughout the state. DATCP also sending approximately 60,000 masks to local food processors and businesses.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/uwgb-students-s5.jpgOur kids need an education to get ahead, but the resulting debt can tarnish the degree's value, grow bigger than you thought due to overly burdensome interest payments, and stunt the growth of the economy for all of us. Find out more.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/road-repair-wi-3-s5.jpgInvestment in state’s infrastructure delayed for years, more important now as our economy continues to recover from the effects of pandemic.

Sloma earned her undergraduate degree from UW-Green Bay, her law degree from Ohio University, and has been a practicing attorney in Shawano for the last 16 years.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced Monday his appointment of Katie Sloma as circuit judge for Shawano-Menominee Counties. The appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge James Habeck.

“Katie Sloma will be an excellent judge for the people of Shawano and Menominee Counties. As an experienced civil litigator and city attorney, she will apply the law fairly and protect our constitutional rights,” said Gov. Evers.

Since 2004, Sloma has maintained a general practice in Shawano, including handling family law cases, divorces, guardianships, wills and estates, real estate transactions, juvenile matters, and guardian ad litem appointments. She was first elected the City of Shawano attorney in 2018. She was reelected in 2020.

“Governor Evers has made an excellent choice in appointing Attorney Sloma as our next Circuit Court Judge,” said Greg Parker, district attorney for Shawano and Menominee Counties. “I have worked with Attorney Sloma on Children’s Court cases for over ten years. She has a reputation of being hardworking, demonstrates a high level of competence, professionalism, and integrity in performing her duties. She has a calm and deliberate demeanor in and out of the courtroom. Based on my experience in working with Attorney Sloma, I know she truly believes in fairness as it relates to court matters, and I am confident that she will do a fine job as our next circuit court judge.”

“I am grateful and honored that Governor Evers has appointed me to the Shawano-Menominee County Branch 1 bench. In my position as judge, I promise to apply the principles of the law knowledgeably, thoughtfully, and fairly to all individuals that appear before me,” said Sloma. “I would like to thank Governor Evers for giving me this exciting opportunity. I look forward to serving my community.”

Sloma earned her undergraduate degree from UW-Green Bay and her law degree from Ohio University. Sloma served on the boards of the Shawano Re-Development Authority, and the Shawano Area Community Foundation.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/coronavirus-voting-us-abcnews-s5.jpgMayors of Wisconsin’s 5 Largest Cities Team Up with Nonpartisan Nonprofit to Invest in Safe Elections During COVID-19 pandemic.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/daca-dreamers-wh-s5.jpgThe decision to refile on DACA was widely expected after the Supreme Court ruled last month that the administration failed to give an adequate justification for terminating the program.