In January, the Rural Wisconsin Initiative was launched with a package of bills meant to bridge the rural-urban gap and to bring leadership and focus to the discussion about the future of our communities in rural Wisconsin. Since then, the eight bills that make up the package have garnered positive attention from people and organizations across the state. Two of our bills passed both houses of the legislature, and have been signed into law by the Governor, while the remaining six remain priorities for next year’s budget.
State Representative, Todd Novak, was in studio to explain more about the goals of the initiative – and what they've got planned for the next session.
The vision of the Rural Wisconsin Initiative is to ensure equal access to health care, technology, education and workforce opportunities, no matter where in Wisconsin a person happens to be born. To ensure a quality education, a school needs to keep good teachers, an issue where rural areas continue to struggle. With the passage of AB 793, retention will become easier. This bill expands the teacher loan repayment program, which has served Milwaukee, to include rural areas. The program has helped Milwaukee area teachers obtain and have forgiven up to $30,000 in loans. This adds an important recruiting tool to the toolbox of rural school administrators.
Technology can be a great equalizer for residents in rural areas – but once again, access is critical. Connecting all of Wisconsin with high speed internet is an important goal, and we took steps toward making that goal a reality by passing AB 820. This bill establishes the Broadband Forward! certification, which enables communities to voluntarily agree to standards that make it easier to implement broadband projects. Rural communities can use this certification to signal their desire and preparedness for new broadband investments.
The remaining proposals in the Rural Wisconsin Initiative continue to drive conversations in the capitol regarding our next budget. Full implementation of the initiative remains a goal we are working toward in 2017. We would like to see all of the remaining pieces of the Rural Wisconsin Initiative enacted next session, either through the budget or as standalone bills. Increasing funding for broadband expansion, for apprenticeship programs, and for rural medical residencies are top priorities.
However, the passage of the eight bills that made up the initial package is only the beginning. The Rural Wisconsin Initiative is an ongoing pursuit that depends on receiving input from rural people across the state. Throughout the remainder of this year, we will work together to draft new legislation that will help propel both our communities and the discussion of the future of rural Wisconsin forward.
Please visit the Initiative's website to learn about the bills, share your ideas, and make your voice heard today.
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