The mayor got one thing right.
After learning of the Famous Footwear decision, he said, “Today’s news reminds us that if we want our economy to remain strong, we need to aggressively implement our new economic development plan and other initiatives.”
To do that, the city should stop relying on outside “consultants” who produce ridiculous reports like the vapid $75,000 “plan” prepared by Chicago-based Ticknor & Associates. The Ticknor report was packed with nuggets like “Good jobs matter” and “Economic development is competitive.”
The city needs to start working with the University of Wisconsin’s Center on Wisconsin Strategy, an internationally respected think tank that is on the cutting edge when it comes to innovative thinking about job growth.
Spending money on Chicago consultants who produce warmed-over pablum is one sign that Madison is not as serious as it must be when it comes to economic development.