Contact: 608-266-2722 MADISON –According to data released from the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had the 9th lowest unemployment rate in the country at 2.6 percent in March. Data also showed that in March, the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis MSA had the 9th lowest unemployment rate and 7th best year-over-year unemployment rate change (-1.0 percent) in the nation for large metropolitan areas with a population of 1 million or more.   “These top-ten rankings for Wisconsin’s two largest metro areas prove that Wisconsin is continuing on a path of economic growth under Governor Scott Walker,”

Contact: Mike Browne, Deputy Director [email protected] (608) 444-3483 MADISON, Wis. — State Republican Assembly Rep. Jesse Kremer, author of an unconstitutional plan to attack free speech rights on University of Wisconsin campuses, has offered an amendment that makes the plan even worse, according to a review by One Wisconsin Now. Kremer’s bill was the subject of a VICE News story featuring One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross and Research Assistant Savion Castro, who both previously testified against the bill. “There is already a chilling atmosphere on free expression for students of color like me on an overwhelmingly white campus,” said Savion

Contact: Jessica Mancel (715) 345-7669 [email protected] STEVENS POINT, Wis., May 26, 2017 — May has been declared “Older Americans Month” to recognize and show appreciation to our Nation’s older citizens. Older Americans have provided a lifetime of contributions to their communities. “Older adults are a growing and vital part of our country,” stated Dave Schwobe, USDA Rural Development Housing Program Director. “The baby boomer generation is now between the ages of 53 and 71. As they grow older, they may need services to allow them to retire, live with dignity and enjoy new opportunities. To ensure decent, safe and affordable

Contact: Rick Hummell608-224-5041   [email protected] Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020  [email protected] MADISON – Organizations interested in promoting their county’s agriculture industry and other businesses are encouraged to consider hosting the 72nd Alice in Dairyland Finals in May, 2019. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting bids from a Wisconsin county or counties to host the event. Local economic development organizations and agriculture promotional organizations are encouraged to consider this opportunity to welcome to their county visitors and media professionals from around the state. Each year, a different county hosts the Alice in Dairyland selection. The planning process

Contact: Liz Hecht, [email protected], (608) 239-1364 Barbara Katz, [email protected], (608) 220-9598 Family Voices of Wisconsin, a network of families who have children and youth with disabilities and/or special health care needs, applauds the Joint Finance Committee’s approval to end wait lists for children’s long-term supports as part of the 2017-2019 state budget. Right now over 2600 children who are eligible for the CLTS program are on county waitlists. The program allows families to receive funding for essential supports and services. Long-term support programs allow families to continue to work, be a part of their communities and support their children’s health

CONTACT: DWD Communications, 608-266-2722 On the Web: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/news.htm On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WIWorkforce On Twitter: @WIWorkforce   MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the state’s Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (QCEW) covering the fourth quarter of 2016. The QCEW data is compiled quarterly based on Unemployment Insurance records from some 96% of Wisconsin business establishments. Highlights of the data when compared to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) published data for 2015 and previous years include: Wisconsin added 179,820 private-sector jobs from December 2010 through December 2016, including an increase of 11,590 jobs over the last

Rep. Ed Brooks: 877-947-0050 Madison… Rep. Ed Brooks (Reedsburg) made the following statement today in response to the actions the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) took yesterday towards prioritizing Rural Wisconsin: “Yesterday was a big win for health care in rural communities. The Joint Finance Committee voted to insert language into the budget based on three of the bills that I and my colleagues in the Rural Wisconsin Initiative drafted. Under the University of Wisconsin System Omnibus Motion, the JFC provided an additional $200K for the Wisconsin Rural Physician Residency Assistance Program (WRPRAP). Under the Department of Health Services Omnibus Motion,

Representative Romaine Quinn                                                   (608) 266-2519 Joint Finance Committee Helps Rural Communities Improve Health Care Access Madison, WI – Yesterday, the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) voted to fund three Rural Wisconsin Initiative (RWI) proposals that will increase access to health care in rural areas. The proposals increase funding for the Wisconsin Rural Physician Residency Assistance Program (WRPRAP) by $200,000 over the biennium, and create two $1 million matching grant programs for the training of Advanced Practice Clinicians and for the training of Allied Health Professionals. The WRPRAP funding, which was included in the Governor’s initial budget, closely mirrors a RWI bill from