Dear Friends,

As the Co-chair of the budget-writing Joint Committee on Finance, it's important to me to be extremely careful with your tax money.  Thanks to our responsible budgeting, Wisconsin ended the fiscal year with a $579 million surplus.  

The new balance is $126 million higher than previous estimates.  It's also the fourth largest surplus in the last 20 years and the second largest since 2000.  This is great news for our state and the extra funds will help protect taxpayers from any volatility in our national or state economy.

Our careful budgeting is being noticed nationally.   Wisconsin's bond rating was upgraded twice this week by two different companies.   Fitch Ratings improved our rating from "AA" to "AA+," their second highest ranking.  T he Kroll Bond Rating Agency also improved our ranking  in two separate categories to their second highest rating.  This marks the third time this year Wisconsin has had its bond rating raised.   In August, Moody's  upgraded our rating  to just below AAA.  

Thanks to our improved economy, bond rating, and business climate, Wisconsin was able to land Foxconn against some pretty stiff competition.  The state of Michigan offered Foxconn $3.8 billion - significantly higher than our offer.  It's clear the reforms we have passed are working.  Wisconsin has a healthy surplus and companies like IKEA, Haribo, and Amazon's distribution center  are choosing us over other states.

As always, if you have any ideas on how to improve our great state, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at  Sen.Darling@legis.wi.gov or 608-266-5830.   

On Wisconsin!

Wisconsin Workforce and Innovation Network for Success 

In Wisconsin, many successful industries work together in clusters. Companies in agriculture, biotechnology, energy, dairy, biohealth, water technology, and plastics use this arrangement to lower costs and increase productivity and innovation.

An industry cluster is a geographic concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers, and associated institutions in a particular field. The concentration of related businesses and academia increases productivity, access to information and skilled labor, cooperative research, and innovation through competition.
 
On Thursday, State Senator Alberta Darling and State Representative Adam Neylon introduced the Wisconsin Workforce and Innovation Network for Success (WINS) Act which will encourage and expand industry clusters in our state.

The Wisconsin WINS Act creates the Innovation Fund and Council to advise the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation on how to promote and expand the great work that is already taking place with clusters in our state. The fund is designed to promote innovation through competition, new product research and development, capacity building through industry cluster partnerships, and accelerate small businesses.
 
This is a model that works for Wisconsin. Our state is already a great place to do business and will continue to lead through innovation and reform. Promoting industry clusters encourages collaboration and spearheads new ideas, new technology, and new jobs.  
 
Representative Neylon and I are currently seeking co-sponsors for the bill.
Manufacturing Month: Women in Manufacturing

October is Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin.  Please take a minute to watch this video from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce about the opportunities women have in manufacturing.
Wisconsin Blue Books Available

The new Wisconsin Blue Books are in!  The Blue Book is an invaluable resource about our state's history, demographics, and data.

If you would like a copy, please visit my website, fill out the form, and we will mail one out to you at no cost.
Around the 8th...

You can help the Thiensville Fire Department break a record!  Every year for Beggars Night, the department hands out candy from their fire trucks and collects non-perishable goods for the hungry.  Last year, they collected 600 pounds of food!

You can drop off food in the lobby of the Thiensville Municipal Center located at 250 Elm Street or on Beggars Night, October 29th from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the station  250 Elm Street,  Thiensville , WI  53092.
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Next Thursday, October 26th, the Village of Thiensville will hold a Business Trick-or-Treat  from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Main Street, Freistadt Road, and Green Bay Road.
Senator Alberta Darling | Sen.Darling@legis.wi.gov | 1-800-863-1113| http://darling.senate.wisconsin.gov
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