TECHNOLOGY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
560.91 General functions.
560.915 Seed capital fund.
560.925 Information exchange.
560.93 Statewide advanced technology.
560.935 Manufacturing modernization.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
560.001
560.001
Definitions. In this chapter:
560.001(1)
(1) "Department" means the department of commerce.
560.001(2)
(2) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department.
560.01
560.01
Organization of the department. 560.01(1)
(1)
Purposes. The functions of the department are of an advocacy, regulatory, consultative, advisory, informational, coordinative and promotional nature. Through research, planning, consultation and through promotion of the development and maximum wise use of the natural and human resources of the state, it shall foster the growth and diversification of the economy of the state. It shall serve as the central agency and clearinghouse for developmental activities concerning the economy of the state. It shall make recommendations to the governor for the purpose of guiding a coordinated and economically efficient development of the state and shall seek closer cooperation and coordination between units of state government, educational institutions, local governments, local planning agencies, including regional planning commissions, and business and industry to foster and encourage a pattern of community development and of state-local and business relationships so that the economy of the state may continue to develop fully and meet citizen and community needs. It shall make continuing studies of the problems affecting economic and community development and recommendations for relieving those problems, and function in any other reasonable manner that will accomplish the stated purposes of this chapter. The department may also coordinate training for local government officials provided by state agencies including, but not limited to, the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the technical college system.
560.01(2)(a)(a)
State economic policy. The department shall develop a state economic policy. The department shall promote and provide technical assistance, consultative services and other assistance to commercial, industrial and recreational development and expansion; facilitate the establishment and retention of business enterprises in this state, including small and minority business enterprises; encourage cooperation between financial institutions and business persons to encourage commercial, industrial and recreational business expansion in this state; encourage creation of jobs throughout the state and especially in urban and rural economically depressed areas; develop and coordinate state public and private economic development plans and federal economic development assistance programs affecting local governments and business and industry; encourage the growth of tourism in the state; promote state products and industries in both foreign and domestic markets; provide informational clearinghouses for businesses and communities in their dealings with other state and federal agencies; advise the governor and legislature on the role of the state in state-local affairs; study the problems affecting local government relations as they impact on economic development and make recommendations for relieving these problems; develop a state-local relations policy to facilitate closer coordination and cooperation between state and local governments; advise the governor and the legislature regarding problems faced by local governments; develop an improved pattern of state-local relations; and develop recommendations for legislative or administrative action as may appear necessary.
560.01(2)(b)
(b)
Regulation of industry, buildings and safety. The department shall administer and enforce laws regulating industry, safety and buildings under
chs. 101,
107,
145 and
168 and
ss. 32.19 to
32.27,
167.10,
167.11 and
167.27 and as otherwise provided by statute.
560.01(3)
(3) Foreign office agreements. The department may enter into agreements regarding compensation, space and other administrative matters as are necessary to operate departmental offices in other states and foreign countries. Such agreements shall be subject to the approval of the secretary of administration.
560.02
560.02
Secretary. The secretary shall:
560.02(1)
(1) Direct the execution of the statutory duties and powers assigned to the department and shall advise the governor and legislature on matters regarding economic growth and development and community development in the state.
560.02(2)
(2) Appoint the administrators for the various divisions of the department subject to
s. 230.08 (4) (a). Administrators appointed under the unclassified service shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.
560.02(3)
(3) Delegate any of his or her powers and duties to such officers and employees of the department as he or she designates, and may authorize successive redelegations of such powers and duties.
560.02(4)
(4) Submit and adopt all necessary plans; enter into contracts; accept gifts, grants and federal funds; make rules and do all things necessary and proper to carry out this chapter.
560.03
560.03
Business and industrial development. The department shall foster, encourage and advocate economic development programs designed to broaden and strengthen the economy of the state, and it shall provide specific leadership in the following instances among others:
560.03(1)
(1) Support and assist the efforts of local business and industry, local government, state, regional and local development corporations, industrial committees, chambers of commerce, labor organizations and other similar public and private agencies to foster expansion of existing agricultural, commercial, industrial and mining enterprises, and initiate efforts to attract new enterprises, including working jointly with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection to develop deer farming under
s. 93.46 (1) (am).
560.03(2)
(2) Identify for the governor's attention those significant business and industrial problems which may be relieved by state action.
560.03(3)
(3) Assist in the formulation and implementation of integrated economic and community development programs for northern Wisconsin and other areas or regions of the state and cooperate with and provide technical assistance to any organizations created for the purpose of aiding and encouraging an orderly, productive and coordinated development of the state.
560.03(4)
(4) Assist in the formulation and development of a more intensive program to aid and expand the mining industry.
560.03(4m)
(4m) Provide, to communities in northern Wisconsin that are affected by mining, technical assistance with planning to diversify their economies.
560.03(5)
(5) Provide advice and assistance to Wisconsin business and labor.
560.03(6)
(6) Locate and maintain information on prime industrial sites, together with recommendations for developing and preserving such sites.
560.03(7)
(7) Perform such other functions as the governor may direct to aid in the industrial development of the state.
560.03(8)
(8) Help local units of government to plan and initiate development projects.
560.03(9)
(9) Establish and operate a small business ombudsman clearinghouse for business and industry to facilitate the flow of information from other state and federal agencies, to assist state agencies in establishing methods to encourage the participation of small businesses in rule making under
s. 227.114 (4) and to serve as ombudsman for small business stationary sources, as defined in
s. 285.79 (1), in connection with the implementation of the federal clean air act,
42 USC 7401 to
7671q.
560.03(10)
(10) Explore the feasibility of new programs which will address, but not be limited to, the following areas of concern:
560.03(10)(a)
(a) The capital development financing needs of business, industrial and agricultural enterprises.
560.03(10)(b)
(b) The creation of job opportunities in inner cities and other economically depressed areas.
560.03(10)(c)
(c) Credit assistance for business and economic development.
560.03(10)(d)
(d) Optimum utilization of federal programs designed to encourage and aid economic development.
560.03(10)(e)
(e) The potential of a program to promote and encourage inventions and technological innovations.
560.03(11)
(11) Prepare and maintain comprehensive plans for the dynamic development of the economy of each area of the state in cooperation with representatives of the area.
560.03(15)
(15) Annually, submit a summary of the employment impact estimates required under
s. 560.034 (2) and a report to the chief clerk of each house of the legislature, for distribution to the legislature under
s. 13.172 (2), analyzing the use of industrial revenue bond financing under
s. 66.1103 and accurately reporting the benefits of that use, including the effect on employment in this state including, but not limited to:
560.03(15)(a)
(a) The number of full-time equivalent employment positions created by each project financed; and
560.03(15)(b)
(b) If use of industrial revenue bond financing results in the relocation of an operation which uses the project financed, the municipality from which the relocation occurs and the number of full-time equivalent employment positions eliminated in that municipality.
560.03(16)
(16) Publish and distribute a list of all aid programs and services made available by this state to its communities. The department shall charge and collect a fee to cover the cost of publication and distribution under this subsection.
560.03(17)
(17) Assist new businesses and small businesses receiving economic development loans under
s. 234.65 (1) (a) or the assistance of the Wisconsin housing and economic development authority in locating sources of venture capital and in obtaining the state and federal licenses and permits necessary for business operations.
560.03(18)
(18) Develop and implement a plan to promote and increase exports, including agricultural products, and foreign investment in this state. The plan shall provide for the secretary to take a leadership role in assuring collaboration and coordination among international trade activities conducted by governmental entities to assure efficiency and to avoid duplication and may include provisions for participation in trade fairs and missions, establishment and maintenance of foreign trade offices and preparation of research on foreign markets for exports from this state and on opportunities for foreign investment in this state. The plan shall describe the allocation of funds for support staff in this state to implement the plan and for all other costs in implementing each provision of the plan. In developing and implementing the plan, the department shall consult with the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the University of Wisconsin System, the technical college system and other public and private agencies and institutions supporting international trade education or activities. Any plan to establish a foreign trade office shall include the feasibility of establishing a system of graduated fees which a trade office may use to offset its operating costs, or a system of commissions for execution of successful transactions, or both.
560.03(19)
(19) Establish a business development assistance center in the department to provide services as set forth in
subch. III.
560.03(20)
(20) Provide technical assistance to community development corporations, as defined in
s. 234.94 (2), and to persons who are forming community development corporations.
560.03(21)
(21) Promulgate rules for the rural hospital loan guarantee program, as required by
s. 231.35 (7).
560.03(22)
(22) Assist American Indian communities in economic development activities.
560.03(23)
(23) Review business plans of persons who intend to apply for a permit under
s. 170.12 and who have not previously engaged in commercial log raising. If the department determines, after the review, that the business plan is viable, the department shall approve the plan.
560.03 History
History: 1971 c. 211 s.
126;
1971 c. 321 ss.
10,
16; Stats. 1971 s. 560.03;
1979 c. 34;
1979 c. 361 ss.
45,
87 to
96;
1979 c. 362;
1983 a. 27,
83,
86,
90,
91,
192;
1985 a. 182 s.
57;
1985 a. 299;
1987 a. 27,
186;
1987 a. 399 s.
433;
1989 a. 317;
1991 a. 39,
302;
1993 a. 399;
1995 a. 27,
227;
1997 a. 27;
1999 a. 150 s.
672.
560.031
560.031
Recycling market development. 560.031(1)(a)
(a) "Board" means the recycling market development board.
560.031(1)(b)
(b) "Business entity" means any organization or enterprise operated for profit or that is nonprofit and nongovernmental, including a proprietorship, partnership, business trust, joint venture, syndicate, corporation or association.
560.031(1)(c)
(c) "Recovered material" means a material that is recovered from solid waste for recycling.
560.031(1)(e)
(e) "Waste generator" means a person who generates solid waste or a responsible unit.
560.031(2)(a)(a) At the request of the board, the department shall provide the financial assistance awarded by the board under
subs. (3) and
(4).
560.031(3)
(3) The board may award a grant, loan or manufacturing rebate under this subsection to a governmental unit or business entity for a project to assist waste generators in the marketing of recovered materials or to develop markets for recovered materials. Before awarding a grant, loan or manufacturing rebate, the board shall consider the extent to which the project does the following:
560.031(3)(a)
(a) Maximizes the marketability of recovered materials on a statewide basis.
560.031(3)(b)
(b) Minimizes the amount of recovered materials disposed of in landfills or burned without energy recovery in incinerators.
560.031(3)(c)
(c) Includes materials that are banned from landfills and that will support community recycling efforts.
560.031(3)(d)
(d) Maintains present markets or creates new or expanded markets for recovered materials.
560.031(4)
(4) The board shall award a grant of $50,000 in each fiscal year to a private, nonprofit, industry-supported organization that is described in section
501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that provides waste reduction and recycling assistance through business-to-business peer exchange. An organization that is awarded a grant must be instrumental in assisting and encouraging companies and institutions to reduce their operating costs through improved production and solid waste management practices and must be in existence on October 29, 1999.
560.031(5)
(5) If the board determines that financial assistance is required to stimulate an activity that it determines is needed to assist responsible units in the marketing of recovered materials or to develop markets for recovered materials, the board shall request the department to issue a request for proposals for that activity, unless the board determines that a request for proposals is not an effective means for distributing the financial assistance for that activity. Upon a request from the board under this subsection, the department shall issue a request for proposals for the activity specified by the board.
560.031(6)
(6) The department shall annually contract for the operation of a statewide materials exchange program with a materials exchange program that received funding from the board in the 1997-99 fiscal biennium.
560.031(7)
(7) The department shall consult with the board and seek advice from the council on recycling before promulgating any rules under this section.
560.032
560.032
Allocation of volume cap on tax-exempt bonds. 560.032(1)(1)
Allocation. The department, by rule, shall establish under
26 USC 146 and administer a system for the allocation of the volume cap on the issuance of private activity bonds, as defined under
26 USC 141 (a), among all municipalities, as defined in
s. 67.01 (5), and any corporation formed on behalf of those municipalities, and among this state, the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority and the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority.
560.032(2)
(2) Amendment to allocation. At any time prior to December 31 in any year, the department may promulgate rules to revise the allocation system established for that year under
sub. (1), except that any revision under this subsection does not apply to any allocation under which the recipient of that allocation has adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance of a private activity bond, as defined in
26 USC 141 (a).
560.032(3)
(3) Conditions. The department may establish, by rule, any procedure for, and place any condition upon, the granting of an allocation under this section which the department deems to be in the best interest of the state including, but not limited to, a requirement that a cash deposit, at a rate established by the department in the rules, be a condition for an allocation.
560.032(4)
(4) Certification. If the secretary receives notice of the issuance of a bond under an allocation under
subs. (1) to
(3), the secretary shall certify that that bond meets the requirements of
26 USC 146.
560.032 History
History: 1987 a. 69,
403;
1989 a. 8;
1997 a. 27.
560.034
560.034
Employment impact estimates. 560.034(1)
(1) The department shall prescribe the notice forms to be used under
ss. 66.1103 (4m) (a) 1. and
234.65 (3) (a). The department shall include on the forms a requirement for information on the number of jobs the person submitting the notice expects to be eliminated, created or maintained on the project site and elsewhere in this state by the project which is the subject of the notice. The department shall prescribe the forms to be used under
ss. 66.1103 (4m) (b) and
234.65 (3r).
