Walker, Barrett support Milwaukee start-up model

Gov. Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett are teaming up in another rare show of bipartisan support in hopes of stimulating business growth in Milwaukee.

The political rivals are backing a new entrepreneurship model aimed at encouraging new ventures.

The collaboration comes two weeks after Walker and Barrett supported a construction project downtown that would free up land for development.

The new plan involves a systematic method of encouraging entrepreneurship. Rather than fund individual unrelated startups, the goal would be to create an environment that fosters long-term growth.

That involves connecting planners, investors, academics and entrepreneurs, in part so the new businesses can support one other and so the community can provide skilled employees to work in those companies.

A formal announcement on the plan will come Thursday morning.