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Rogers, J. Build the High Road Here. Vol. 282, The Nation, 2006, pp. 25-26.
In The Nation, April 17, 2006, Build the High Road Here asserts that the “high road”- a road of increased productivity, improved government efficiency, higher citizen engagement, implemented environmental standards, and smart growth policies that reduce commuting times and lower real housing costs- should all serve as an internationals strategy to balance capital markets and strengthen democracy.
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Godon, K., M. Mayrl, S. Rhodes-Conway, and B. Siu. New Energy for States: Energy-Saving Policies for Governors and Legislators. COWS, 2006.
Written for the Apollo Alliance, COWS lays out various methods that states can implement in order to reduce energy use, achieve energy savings, and move towards reliance on renewable energy and fuel technologies. Legislation should set standards for construction of green buildings and in the sun, wind, and bio-based industries, should offer incentives for efficient car use and transit development, and should encourage investments to improve job quality.
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Luria, D., and J. Rogers. Babies, Bathwater, and American Manufacturing: What’s Worth Saving and How. COWS, 2006.
Research has suggested that certain manufacturing sectors should be “saved” over other sectors with respect to changes within international competitive markets. The authors report on Sustained Advanced Manufacturing.
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,. Pulling Apart: Wisconsin’s Growing Income Inequality. COWS, 2006.Document
While Wisconsin has a history of a relatively high level of equality, the past two decades have continuously resulted in greater wealth disparities. Wisconsin legislators need to focus on maintaining the high level of economic equality seen in previous decades by building the skills and education of Wisconsin’s workforce.
COWS and Wisconsin Council on Children & Families report Pulling Apart: Wisconsin’s Growing Income Inequality is based on Pulling Apart, a State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends published by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute.
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Sterzinger, G., J. Stevens, and M. Svrcek. Component Manufacturing: Wisconsin’s Future in the Renewable Energy Industry. Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP), 2006.
It is the intent of this report to outline the potential for Wisconsin from a national commitment to accelerate renewable energy development
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Rhodes-Conway, S., and B. Parish. New Energy for Campuses: Energy-Saving Policies for Colleges and Universities. COWS, 2006.
The Apollo Alliance and the Campus Climate Challenge recommend that all campuses institute six basic reforms, the details of which are outlined in this report.
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Dresser, L. When Work Doesn’t Pay: The Hidden Cost of Low-Wage Jobs. COWS, 2006.
COWS takes a close look at the “hidden public costs” of low wage jobs and reveals that many working families do not earn sufficient wages and benefits to care for their families.
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Maryl , M. Efficient and Strategic TIF Use: A Guide for Wisconsin Municipalities. COWS, 2006.
COWS report offers strategies for Wisconsin’s cities and villages to use their TIF (tax incremental financing) funds to expand local economies and leverage for high-quality, sustainable development.
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Created in 1996, Jobs With a Future (JWF) brings together leading stakeholders in South Central Wisconsin — including the City of Madison, Dane County, Madison Area Technical College (MATC), the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin (WDBSCW), and the University of Wisconsin-Madison — to build and pursue a strategic vision for workforce development in the region.
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The Industry Partnerships Project, a project funded by a $1.14 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin, is examined in this article by COWS.
The Industry Partnerships Project has three main goals:
1- To provide training to incumbent workers that would enable them to take on new responsibilities and/or advance beyond entry-level positions in health care and manufacturing,
2- To improve employment opportunities for the growing number of dislocated workers in the region,
3- To build and strengthen relationships between employers and institutional partners.
COWS has five observations regarding the Industry Partnerships Projects with respect to the Wisconsin economy:
1- With the right infrastructure and relationships in place, a large and timely public investment in training can pay off in significant and lasting ways for workers, employers, and the public sector,
2- When an industry experiences a labor or skills shortage, as health care did during the course of this project, employers will actively participate in workforce training, especially training that involves intensive and technical skills. (However, the cost of technical training may be prohibitive for some firms, once public funding disappears),
3- Even when an industry is suffering substantial setbacks, as manufacturing was during the period of this project, employers will participate actively, especially in training that is geared toward leadership and communication skills development,
4- Dislocated workers benefit from training programs designed for incumbent workers by developing the skills local employers need. To better serve dislocated workers, however, training must be delivered differently than it is to those with jobs,
5- A limited-term, publicly funded investment in worker training can help build long-term relationships between employers and public partners.