Walker Unveils New Plan To Speed Economic Growth

Gov. Scott Walker has unveiled a new initiative designed to identify potential shovel-ready sites for economic development to speed the site selection and permitting process.

Dubbed “Ready, Set, Build!” the program Walker announced on Tuesday would be run by the quasi-public Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Walker says a third party consultant will also assist in the development and administration of the new program.

The program is designed to identify, review and approve for pre-certification up to 10 sites a year. Once approved, the sites will be deemed to be certified-ready, which Walker says will speed up development.

Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate called the new initiative a gimmick that would short circuit established permitting procedures and pose risks to the environment.

Walker said he hopes to have it running by spring.