Madison Region: Finding Creative Solutions to Local Issues

Private-public partnerships help solve pressing problems while working to create a thriving economy.

By Teree Caruthers on July 31, 2023

The Madison Region’s strong commitment to innovation has resulted in a number of successful initiatives that are making a positive impact on the community.

From rideshare programs in rural areas to tax incentives for job creators, private-public partnerships in Madison and the surrounding communities are helping to solve some of the region’s most pressing problems while working hard to create a thriving economy.

Driving Sustainability

Sustainability remains a major economic issue for the Madison Region. Madison has been able to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 28% since 2005 and is on track to reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

One way the business community is helping reach that goal is through Alliant Energy’s Customer Hosted Renewables Program. The energy provider partners with businesses to build solar farms on their property in exchange for a monthly lease payment. The business earns extra income and the community benefits from access to a renewable energy source.

Another example of creative problem-solving is the recent partnership between the Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) and Enterprise Rent-A-Car to offer ride-sharing to some of the region’s underserved communities.

“Workforce transportation has always been an issue, particularly for underserved targeted areas and individuals in our rural areas. The pandemic only exacerbated the issue. As a solution-based organization, we decided we need to do something about it,” says Jason Fields, president and CEO, Madison Region Economic Partnership.

“We thought it was a great solution that’s easily managed, and that’s good for the economy and good for the environment and good to get people to their jobs. It was basically a trifecta for us.”

The organization subsidizes three Enterprise vans to transport mostly rural residents to jobs in the city. Fields says the goal is to eventually subsidize many more, with companies such as UW Health and FedEx exploring the program.

“Our goal is to eventually get to a hundred vans where people are partnering up, collaborating and getting to work,” he says. “When you start looking at the benefits of having fewer people on the road, you see that it’s not just economically and environmentally sound, but it’s also good for quality of life. Spending less time in traffic reduces stress and can improve your physical health.”

Making Money Moves

When Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals began making plans to establish a new drug manufacturing facility in Verona, a public-private partnership led by the city and state provided the necessary funds to launch the project.

The city of Verona utilized tax increment financing to secure the company’s presence in their community. At the same time, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) contributed to Arrowhead’s expansion with performance-based Business Development Tax Credits based on the company’s plan to invest $220 million in capital expenditures and to create more than 230 high-paying jobs.

“As the state’s lead economic development organization, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. worked closely with Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ leaders and local economic development partners to understand the company’s needs and its potential for growth,” says Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of the WEDC.

“Arrowhead’s expansion in Wisconsin is part of our state’s growing biohealth sector, which includes industry leaders like Exact Sciences, GE HealthCare, Catalent and Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics.”

Zeroing in on the Madison Region and Wisconsin

Arrowhead joins a growing list of biopharmaceutical companies that choose to locate in Wisconsin because of the strategic investments the state has made in worker education and training, infrastructure and strong communities in recent years.

Hughes says Arrowhead’s emphasis on innovation and world-class leadership makes it a perfect fit for the Madison Region and for Wisconsin as a whole.

“Wisconsin is known both nationwide and globally for developing and bringing to market innovative solutions that transform lives. The WEDC is pleased to partner with Arrowhead because they have the potential to transform health care – and all of our lives – through innovation, persistence and collaboration,” Hughes says.

“In addition to making a major capital investment in Wisconsin and creating hundreds of high-paying jobs, Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals has selected numerous Wisconsin companies to assist with execution of the project, including local architects, civil engineers, builders, as well as several Wisconsin subcontractors to complete items such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing and process piping activities.”