In September 2009, the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) partnered with, Competitive Wisconsin, Inc., Wisconsin Counties Association, and Wisconsin Economic Development Institute (WEDI) to initiate a collaborative economic development study, intended to identify and align policy, program and organizations to competitively position Wisconsin and our business community for the global marketplace. This Study's ambitious goal is to create a new long-range economic development strategy that will position Wisconsin for investment, jobs and growth.  Deloitte Consulting and Newmark Knight Frank (NKF) Consulting were selected to conduct the study.

The primary objectives of the Wisconsin Competitiveness Study are to:

• Benchmark Wisconsin against various regional and national competitors on a variety of business climate factors.
• Evaluate Wisconsin's competitiveness in selected industry sectors with best practice regions.
• Recommend improvements to existing economic development strategies and structures to promote growth throughout the state.
• Create consensus with economic development stakeholders across the state related to the conclusions of this study and proposed next steps.
• The Wisconsin Competitiveness Study focuses squarely on producing a well-reasoned, executable economic development strategy for improving Wisconsin competitiveness and positioning the state for business growth, job creation and increased per capital income of our residents.

The current economic situation has given Wisconsin the opportunity for reflection, evaluation and a new beginning. This non-partisan report points out the need for focused economic development strategies creating a more nimble, responsive infrastructure to attract and retain business and investment.

Overall Goals:

• Wisconsin will rank among the top 10 states for starting a business by 2016
• Currently 28th, Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity
• Wisconsin will rank among the top 10 states for expanding a business by 2016
• Currently 29th - CNBC Ranking - May 2010

Major Recommendations:

• Restructure economic development organizations to align processes and financial resources
• Create quasi-public organization to manage economic development financial, attraction, branding and retention programs while eliminating the leadership revolving door of current and past organizational structures
• Create a statewide Innovation focused non-profit to deliver technical services, manage and fund early and second stage investment programs. Managed by experienced serial entrepreneur(s)

• Create and expand financial programs to bolster innovation and attraction of capital intensive projects
• Use bonding authority to create innovative $500 MM financials programs
• Align economic development, educational, business and public leadership around key target industry sectors tied to statewide and regional clusters
• Develop statewide business retention program strategies to retain leading position in key industry sectors.
• Utilize available technology to manage, build and expand effectiveness of business interactions and visibility across multiple economic development stakeholders
• Implement a state focused GIS based sites and buildings solution
• One CRM solution for attraction, exporting, and direct investment, as well as tracking performance metrics across the state
• Separate regulatory activities from business development functions

Please Note: General business and tax climate analysis were not part of this Study's recommendations

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