Last Thursday, the state legislative Joint Finance Committee completed its work on the 2023–25 capital budget without approving a new College of Engineering for UW–Madison. In response, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce President Zach Brandon released a statement expressing disappointment with the decision.
In this statement, Brandon cited historically low levels of unemployment across Greater Madison and the state as well as demand for industry talent as support for the new College of Engineering. He asserted UW–Madison’s significant role in supporting Wisconsin businesses by developing that talent.
He went on to note that, while the state has faced a workforce shortage largely driven by demographics, it for the first time leads the Midwest in net migration of Gen Z adults, who are motivated by quality of life, global innovation, and higher-education institutions. Brandon concluded that this momentum will be lost without critical investments to sustain it.
