Located in America’s heartland,
Wisconsin is a place of abundant natural beauty, diverse
recreational activities, progressive educational institutions
and unsurpassed economic opportunity.
With 15,000 inland lakes, two Great Lakes, three National
Park Service properties and 57 state parks and forests,
Wisconsin is blessed with stunning natural resources.
Not surprisingly, it is one of the top tourist destinations
in the Midwest, popular with visitors during all four
of its distinct seasons.
Wisconsin’s appeal isn’t limited to rural
areas, though; the state’s towns and cities have
a long history of supporting arts and cultural activities,
offering visitors a wide variety of museums, galleries,
performing arts, events and historical sites. The state
also boasts top-flight professional sports teams, worldclass
entertainment and incredible restaurants and nightclubs.
ECONOMY
The Badger state’s economy is as diverse as its
attractions. Long known as “America’s Dairyland,”
Wisconsin ranks at or near the top in a number of food
production categories, including milk, cheese, cranberries,
ginseng and beer. Home to companies like Harley-Davidson,
Rockwell, Miller Brewing and SC Johnson, the state is
also a leader in manufacturing and boasts one of the
lowest unemployment rates in the country.
EDUCATION
Wisconsin has a proud tradition of progressive education.
Whether you are a teacher, student, parent or just an
interested citizen, a wealth of Wisconsin’s educational
resources are here at your fingertips.
TAX INCENTIVES
Wisconsin offers a number of tax incentives for corporations
and other businesses to locate or expand their operations
within the state. Incentives available to businesses
include exemptions, credits, and other special corporate
tax treatment. In addition, the state has designated
certain areas as development zones and local governments
have created tax incremental finance (TIF) districts.
Businesses locating or expanding operations within development
zones are eligible to claim development zone tax credits.
Businesses locating operations within a TIF district
benefit from infrastructure financed by tax increments.
In addition, a technology zones
programme was recently enacted that provides tax credits
for high-tech businesses locating in a technology zone.
OUTLOOK
Looking forward to 2005 and beyond, the outlook remains
positive. Despite some concerns regarding the price
of oil and the pace of job creation, the national economic
forecast anticipates continued increases in employment
and income. In this environment it is reasonable to
anticipate employment growth in Wisconsin to average
in excess of 1.5% annually over the next several years.
Nominal income growth should average over 5% per year
and with inflation remaining in the 2% range, real incomes
are expected to increase
steadily.
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
201 West Washington Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
Tel:
+1 608 266 1018
Website:
www.wisconsin.gov
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