Rep. Jill Billings Receives WEDA’s Champion of Economic Development Award

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) today presented Rep. Jill Billings (D-LaCrosse) with the 2020 “Champion of Economic Development” award for her leadership on legislative initiatives to drive economic growth and prosperity in Wisconsin.

Rep. Jill Billings receives the WEDA “Champion of Economic Development” award

The award is presented to state legislators who exemplify WEDA’s mission of promoting economic development and are committed to making Wisconsin a better place to live, work and do business through effective policies. Rep. Billings earned the “Champion of Economic Development” award for her work on key proposals during the 2019-20 legislative session, including Opportunity Zones legislation to spur new investment in Wisconsin and a bill to boost funding for transportation projects that stimulate economic growth.

“Representative Billings continues to be a strong voice for economic development in the legislature, advocating for policies and programs that help advance economic prosperity and create new opportunities for businesses and residents,“ said Michael Welsh, WEDA Legislative Affairs Director. “Her leadership during the legislative session paved the way for the approval of several key proposals, including an Opportunity Zones bill that will help drive private investment to capital starved communities.”

WEDA is presenting the award to 21 state lawmakers who exhibited an exceptional commitment to growing Wisconsin’s economy based on several factors, including voting record, sponsorship of legislation and responsiveness to critical economic development issues during the 2019-20 session.

“The Wisconsin Economic Development Association and our members across the state are excited to recognize Rep. Billings as a ‘Champion of Economic Development’ for her work on pro-growth policies and commitment to advancing Wisconsin’s economy,” said Brian Doudna, WEDA Executive Director.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association, founded in 1975, is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to growing Wisconsin’s economy. Driven by the needs of our 450-plus members, we represent the economic development interests of both the private and public sectors through leadership on statewide initiatives.