Working Together to Make the Madison Region Better

Community leaders drive positive change and economic development in Madison, WI, and its surrounding communities.

By Kim Madlom on July 26, 2023

Leaders who are effective at inspiring, motivating and mobilizing communities toward common goals play a critical role in driving economic development in Madison and around the region.

The board of directors for the Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) is a prime example of such leaders who are collaborating to tackle significant issues, such as broadband access, transportation and talent attraction.

MadREP brings together representatives from businesses, government, education and utilities to shape public policy and advance economic initiatives actively.

“MadREP and organizations throughout the state are working every day to build a stronger Wisconsin and exploring ways to spur or enhance economic growth,” says David de Leon, MadREP board member and Alliant Energy Wisconsin president. “It is important for these organizations to continue working together to solve the key issues, such as broadband access, that are impacting communities throughout the state. Working collaboratively, leaders play a critical role in advancing initiatives while removing barriers that limit economic growth.”

Alliant has spearheaded initiatives to solve the digital divide and bring high-speed internet to areas like the village of Hollandale in Iowa County. As a result of partnerships,  Alliant Energy has also developed a megasite in Beaver Dam in Dodge County. For de Leon, serving on the board has helped inform his thoughts on broadband in rural areas.

“Being on the board has provided additional context, information and therefore a greater understanding of broadband activities taking place throughout the state,” he says.

“It has also facilitated greater collaboration and provided opportunities to share experiences and learn from each other. It’s helped us expand the way we think about the fiber we’re installing to enhance connections between our electric facilities and devices to make the energy grid smarter and more resilient, especially in rural communities. Today, we are working with local internet service providers, leasing them excess fiber strands so they can expand their network to offer high-speed internet connectivity to more Wisconsinites.”

De Leon says making broadband equally accessible to all is on par with providing access to essential services such as electricity and natural gas.

“A reliable internet connection provides essential access to education and health services,” he says. “It drives economic development and helps attract and retain a great workforce. It’s also a must if we’re to truly address racial and social injustice to advance diversity, equity and inclusion across the entire region. In other words, affordable and reliable high-speed internet is critical to closing the digital divide gap that exists, especially in rural communities.”

Workforce Development

In the talent realm, the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin (WBDSCW) and Madison College work together through collaboration councils. Both organizations have representatives on the MadREP board.

“From a workforce development board perspective, our entire philosophy is built around collaboration,” says Seth Lentz, the WBDSCW’s CEO. “As a community, we can’t do or address anything alone. We need partnerships to align and leverage and capitalize on experience and resources striving to create a growing community.”

Lentz says workforce development involves a mixture of public and private components to create a collaborative, responsive and sustainable ecosystem.

“Working together helps us to capitalize on the opportunities of today, innovate for tomorrow and strategize for the future,” Lentz says. “We’re fortunate in this region. Collaboration and partnership are just in our fiber.”

Expansion Projects in Progress

Partnership and collaboration create real-world benefits like the expansion of Ho-Chunk Gaming in the region.

“A path for development and expansion at the Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison site was made possible by collaboration between the city of Madison, Dane County and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation,” says Dan Brown, Ho-Chunk executive manager.

“In order for the city to consider any future zoning and permitting, vehicular access challenges had to be resolved. Through collaborative efforts, the Highway 12-18/AB interchange project is underway and said access challenges and safety concerns will have been addressed, thus allowing for future development plans to move forward. Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison is thrilled to have worked alongside our neighbors to reach this milestone.”

Helping Underserved Communities Thrive

Connecting underserved communities to economic opportunity creates sustainable growth, fosters innovation and helps communities thrive in a changing global economy.

Making those connections is a primary goal of Bridge Wisconsin, a new initiative of MadREP that works to create a link between urban and rural environments.

As a collaboration that serves as the connection point for Madison’s urban and rural communities, Bridge Wisconsin will bring together the state’s public and private sector leaders, as well as entrepreneurs – who are all working towards the same mission, to bolster economic opportunity and growth in the region.

“The challenges faced by urban and rural areas are the same – food security and sustainability, early childhood education, economic equity and investment, and IT and broadband access,” says Jason Fields, the president and CEO of MadREP. “A collaborative effort to address these issues will strengthen our partnerships and region.”

One focus of the initiative is Information Technology and Broadband, a strategic priority that focuses on supporting entrepreneurs and attracting more talent to rural areas by:

• Developing a collaborative network among rural Wisconsin business owners.
• Offering consulting and business planning services to cohort members, so they feel equipped to scale their business.
• Creating an innovative finance pipeline for rural entrepreneurs, so they have access to loans and grants to cover the costs of starting or growing an existing business.
• Focusing on job training and placement, so rural areas have access to skilled talent.

The primary component of the IT & Broadband priority is the Rural Information Communications Technology (ICT) Access Program. The Madison Region is recognized as one of the nation’s top five locations for information jobs due to a growing number of ICT companies employing 18,000 people throughout the eight counties. Continuing to invest in and grow the ICT sector requires increasing access to those jobs across rural and urban communities.

Fields says Bridge Wisconsin is a holistic approach to economic development, one that engages and includes people of color, while also tackling education, food security and the other priorities that affects one’s whole being.

“We tend to discuss opportunities for individuals of color at the surface level,” he says. “Often, we find that these individuals are relegated to jobs, not careers, in construction, hospitality and the service industry. These are skilled and talented people in good roles, and the idea to continue supporting these individuals is to change the approach by looking at job placement and careers in areas that are more tech-oriented and can create a pipeline for generational wealth.”

Creating a region that is economically inclusive requires municipalities and localities to connect in an impactful and strategic way. MadREP hopes Bridge Wisconsin can be that connection point.