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CV Legislators Recovery & Reinvestment Roundtable

Monday, March 30, 2009

Administration, Business & Local Officials to Discuss Recovery Efforts

(Eau Claire) – A roundtable discussion on federal and state stimulus programs affecting the Chippewa Valley will be held April 20 at the Eau Claire County Courthouse from 3 to 5 PM. The meeting represents the first comprehensive regional review of programs authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and similar state efforts being coordinated by the Wisconsin Office of Recovery and Reinvestment.

This public event will feature representatives from Governor Doyle’s administration, including DATCP Secretary Rod Nilsestuen and numerous staff from the Office of Recovery and Reinvestment, as they meet with local business and government leaders to discuss federal and state stimulus programs. The event is being hosted by Senators Pat Kreitlow (D-Chippewa Falls) and Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) and Representatives Kristen Dexter (D-Eau Claire) and Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire)

“This event is about finding solutions for the economic crisis and making sure our efforts are both productive and transparent,” said Kreitlow. “It’s time to engage in serious discussions about what is happening and focus on what else we need to do to make economic recovery a reality, instead of wasting time on more of the same kind of political rhetoric that got us into this mess in the first place. ”

Local business and government leaders, along with leaders in education and workforce development, will be invited to participate in the roundtable discussion. The public will be welcomed to attend and to submit topics for discussion in advance through their legislators.

“Every time I talk to a local decision maker, they want to know how we can use these stimulus programs here in our community,” said Dexter. “This meeting should help us answer those questions and foster some new ideas on how best to put federal and state stimulus funds to work here.”

“It’s obvious that the Chippewa Valley is one of the key regions to our state’s economic health,” said Smith. “That’s why we asked that the Joint Finance Committee hold their hearing here last week and why we’ve asked the administration to bring the discussion on recovery and reinvestment to our area now.”

For more information on this meeting, please contact Senator Kreitlow’s office at 608-266-7511 or by email at sen.kreitlow@legis.wisconsin.gov.

Last Updated (2009-04-20 23:15:30)