State government leaders visit La Crosse to promote “Winning with Wisconsin’s Workforce”

Finding ways to help people get, and keep, good jobs was the goal of a meeting that brought some leading state officials to La Crosse on Wednesday.

The event was called “Winning with Wisconsin’s Workforce.”

Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez was among the Wisconsin state leaders who took part in roundtable discussions with local residents.

“We know there is not a one-size-fits-all solution to the workforce challenges that are facing us, different regions, industries, communities,” Rodriguez told dozens of guests at a Radisson Center luncheon. “And that’s why were are proposing to continue critical programs like our workforce innovation grants.”

Speakers at the conference, representing areas including corrections, veterans affairs and technical colleges, talked about providing paid family leave for Wisconsin workers and looking at ways to improve the workplace.

Viroqua’s Missy Hughes, the secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), wants to see communities and regions market themselves to workers.

“People don’t necessarily move to a state,” Hughes said. “They move to a city, or a region, or they move for a family.”

Hughes said WEDC teams up with communities and regions to promote places like La Crosse and Eau Claire that are looking for workers.

State Administration Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld also attended the luncheon, after visiting Prairie du Chien in the morning to tour a new housing development called Prairie Bluffs.

The housing is being built near Highway 27 at the site of the former Commerce Court strip mall, which used to include Piggly Wiggly, True Value and a multi-plex movie theater.