Wisconsin Economic Development Academy Update: Kathy Heady, Academy Manger


WEDA Academy Manager Kathy Heady

The snow is falling so it must be almost time for the annual Governor’s Conference on Economic Development.  I hope you will consider coming early and joining us for the Academy program, Financing Workforce Housing: Exploring Program Options and Opportunities.  The Program is being held on February 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Madison Club.  It will focus on exploring financing structures of successful workforce housing projects through a case study approach.  Case studies will be presented by:

  • Seth Hudson, EDFP, Senior Manager of Economic & Community Development Services, Cedar Corporation with Megan Schuetz, Real Estate Developer, Movin’ Out, Inc.
  • Ted Matkom, Wisconsin Market President, Gorman & Company or Nicole Solheim, Director of Development, Gorman & Company
  • Abby Attoun, Director of Planning and Community Development, City of Middleton
  • Jacob Klein, President, JT Klein Company, Inc.
  • Donald N. Bernards, CPA, Partner, Baker Tilly
  • Fred Hebert, Executive Director, Central Wisconsin Community Action Council, Inc

In addition, Steve Apfelbacher, Partner, H & A Advisors, LLC and Michael C. Harrigan, Partner, H & A Advisors LLC will present information on a new financing strategy and participants will have an opportunity to participate in tabletop discussions over the lunch hour.

The Financing Workforce housing program is the second in a series of 4 programs the Academy is holding on workforce housing. 

The well attended first session, a webinar – Workforce Housing: Framing the Issues and Opportunities was held in December.  The third program, a webinar, Spurring Single Family Residential Investment, Tools for your Market will be held on April 28.  This program will focus on single family residential investment, including options for spurring new development.  The final program in the series, Workforce Housing: Identifying Local Needs, Municipal Tools and Zoning Practices will be held on June 3 in Appleton.  This course will focus on methods of examining local housing needs and gaps, best practices in permitting and the development approval process, and innovations in zoning and municipal tools to encourage the development of workforce housing. Registration is open.  Please visit the WEDA website to register.

In addition to the housing series, the Academy will be featuring three programs on Workforce Development, including a webinar on community strategies – Dealing with Barriers to Employment: Sustainable Best Practices, and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Course Workforce Development Strategies on August 6-7.  

Two additional webinars will be held in 2020, one on fiscal and economic impact tools and one on the fundamentals of business retention.

The full Academy program for 2020 can be found here: http://www.weda.org/spotlight/academy/

Please look for me at the Governor’s Conference.  Share your ideas for Academy programs or volunteer to be an instructor.  I look forward to your input.  I can also be reached at kheady@weda.org.