Wisconsin as a start up hub

Wisconsin as a Start-Up Hub

State Senator Kelda Roys joins to encourage you to attend one of the Joint Finance Committee public budgetary hearings.

And then we talk to Missy Hughes, Secretary and CEO of WEDC, about the Wisconsin Investment Fund.

Guests: Kelda Roys, Missy Hughes

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Kelda Roys On JFC Public Hearings

State Senator Kelda Roys joins to talk about the importance of the public attending the upcoming Joint Finance Committee public hearings on the budget

The public hearing schedule is:  

  • Wednesday, April 5, 2023: Waukesha County Expo Center, Main Arena, 1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha  
  • Tuesday, April 11, 2023: UW-Eau Claire, Davies Student Center, Ojibwe Grand Ballroom (Third Floor), 77 Roosevelt Ave., Eau Claire  
  • Wednesday, April 12, 2023, Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Conference Center, Sandstone Meeting Room, 45 Hillman Road, Wisconsin Dells  
  • Wednesday, April 26, 2023: Lakeland Union High School, 9573 State Highway 70, Minocqua  

The public hearings will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. Attendees will need to fill out a form upon arrival to be added to the queue to testify.  

The JFC has also created an online portal for constituents to provide input: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/topics/budgetcomments/

The JFC has also developed a dedicated email address for input only: budget.comments@legis.wisconsin.gov and all emails will be circulated to the full committee.

Three Headlines And A Lie (Courtesy of The Morning Brew Newsletter)

Three of these headlines are real and one is faker than the meat inside an off-brand hot pocket. Can you spot the odd one out?

  1. Hitman hires hitman who hires hitman who hires hitman who hires hitman who tells police
  2. Amsterdam launches stay away ad campaign targeting young British men
  3. Hackers say they can access Teslas and make them honk wildly
  4. The atmosphere of Venus makes lava from the planet’s volcanic activity cool enough to touch

Missy Hughes, Secretary and CEO of the WEDC

Apparently, it is National Mom and Pop business Day so it was serendipitous that we spoke to WEDC’s Missy Hughes to get the rundown on what the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is and what kind of businesses they help. 

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is a public-private economic development organization that serves the state of Wisconsin in the United States. It was created in 2011 by Governor Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Legislature to replace the former Wisconsin Department of Commerce, to foster economic development and job creation in the state.


WEDC works to promote business growth and investment in Wisconsin by providing a range of services and programs to businesses and communities throughout the state. This includes providing financial assistance, access to capital, and resources for workforce development and talent attraction.

Some of the key programs and initiatives offered by WEDC include the Wisconsin Business Development (WBD) loan program, which provides financing to small businesses; the Wisconsin Economic Development Tax Credit (WEDTC) program, which offers tax incentives to businesses that create jobs in Wisconsin; and the Certified In Wisconsin program, which helps companies gain visibility and recognition as high-quality Wisconsin-based businesses.

Overall, the WEDC plays an important role in promoting economic growth and development in Wisconsin and works closely with businesses, communities, and other economic development organizations to create a more vibrant and prosperous economy in the state.
Two of the innovative programs we discussed were the Main Street Bounceback Grants and the Wisconsin Investment Fund

5 Days Until Wisconsin’s April 4th Election!

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