Margaret Heller for Alderman
We have to be ahead of the game
My name is Margaret Heller, and I am
running for Alderman in our District after the retirement of Don
Holland. I believe that it is obvious that bringing jobs to Kenosha
should be the top priority of our city government. We should have a
long-term plan as well as a plan we can immediately implement. I have
a plan, so please get out and vote for me for Alderman on April 6th at
Southport Beach House.SHORT TERM PLAN: Create more jobs for people who want to work from their homes; infrastructure does not need to be implemented for these. For example:
450 twenty-five hour a week jobs were created by JetBlue in Salt Lake City for reservationists in their own homes according to Thomas Friedman in "The World is Flat". Kenosha needs this.
BazaarVoice is a ratings and review company out of Austin, Tx. that employs people at home to read blogs and internet content to help companies understand trends to create positive results for businesses.
Working with our schools. Great cities work hand and hand with their colleges and universities to retain brainpower and create new industry.
Parkside in partnership with the Women's Business Initiative Corporation has begun a Small Business Planning Series that walks entrepreneurs step by step through the process of business planning. To register for upcoming workshops call 262-898-7438 or email kspranger@racinecountyedc.org
GTC has started a degree related geo-thermal course that trains people
to become contractors to do affordable geo-thermal installation. In spite of the demand for this product there are no other schools that provide this training for heating and air conditioning companies. Kenosha can be a leader.
The city should be there to help trained people to accomplish their goals with tax deductions or other incentives. The next Small Biz Class at UW-Parkside is complete on April 17th with 30 graduates who have been working together to perfect their business plans. If a person opens a business they immediately lose their unemployment benefits and then must make a profit from day one. We can help them get on their feet and create jobs for Kenosha.
Here are two examples of Grants that are available through the schools:
The Kloss Grant through Parkside is a $50,000 grant that will support dislocated workers in retraining.
Also, the U.S. Department of Labor has announced $100 million in green job training grants through the Recovery Act. The grants will support job training programs to help dislocated workers and others, including veterans, women, African Americans and Latinos find jobs in expanding green industries and related occupations. Approximately $28 million of the total funds will support projects in communities impacted by auto industry restructuring. We need to make sure Kenosha is getting its share.
The Wisconsin Main Street Program http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/cd/CD-bdd.html - is a comprehensive revitalization program designed to promote the historic and economic redevelopment of traditional business districts in Wisconsin. We do not need to reinvent the wheel. This program has been successful in many major cities after people moved away from the old parts of the city into the suburban area.
Here is a listing of schools and a taste of what is available
Cardinal Stritch University has a Kenosha campus that offers a few degrees through evening classes. More information is available by calling 262-697-0251 or by visiting cbm.stritch.edu
Carthage College offers adult Education for part-time students to obtain undergraduate and graduate degrees in several subjects or to gain professional development by attending night classes. Visit www.carthage.edu and click on Admissions/Adult Learners. Or email adulted@carthage.edu or call 262-551-6300
Concordia University has Racine and Kenosha campuses, usually restricting enrollment to students 25 and older. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees with the idea that adults learn differently from younger people. Go to www.cuw.edu or call 262-697-8260
Gateway Technical College allows auditing and offers some adult continuing ed courses, including computer software instruction, for free to those 62 and older. In both cases other fees may apply. Help is available with the basics for students who have been away from school for a while and are enrolling in classes for credit. Call 262-564-2200 or visit www.gtc.edu.
George Williams College of Aurora University in Williams Bay offers several undergraduate majors and graduate degrees through evening classes. Contact the school at 262-245-8564 or visit www.aurora.edu/gwc
University of Wisconsin - Parkside also offers auditing of some classes and several night courses of study for non-traditional students. Try www.uwp.edu/admissions or call 262-595-2355. (There is also an Adventures in Lifelong Learning office on campus for exploration of subjects outside the classroom, typically by older adults. Visit www.uwp.edu and enter ALL in the search box or call252-595-3340)
Many experts predict that Generation Y (as in Y2K) will emerge as the most entrepreneurial generation ever. Academia is responding with more programs to help students learn how to start up their own businesses. Also expanding are related organizations that support entrepreneurs. For example:
The Consortium for Entrepreneurship Education - www.entre-ed.org
The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship - www.nfte.com - for programs for young
people in low income communities
The International School of Entrepreneurship - www.theISOE.com
The Kauffman Foundation is a main supporter of a popular Global Entrepreneurship
Week - www.unleashingideas.org
Idea Workshops: Nurtureing your Idea to Market is a web based and "in person" discussion group. Business feasibility curriculum offers entrepreneurs essential tools in evaluating personal readiness and market access for a new business venture. For more information call Parkeside Extension - 262-898-7438 or wagner@uwp-edu
http://www.openforum.com/ is a web based community to help business owners expand and develope thei businesses.
LONG TERM PLAN:
Encouraging business that will draw people here. Kenosha would like to draw people here because of our great museums but we also need to add unique businesses that are sought after by people outside of our county. Chester Electronics draws people from outside of our area because they can locate any electronic part a person could need. An example of a unique, viable business would be a salvage company that would rescue items from some of the older buildings that are razed here and make it available to people who restore homes.
We need an "anchor store" for our downtown, or for what I see as the entrance to our city, south Sheridan Road. I would like to see a large bookstore such as Barnes & Noble, or a specialty store like Trader Joe's in either place. Restored movie theaters can revitalize a downtown as well as support the restaurants and the local shops. Imagine downtown with a bookstore and a movie theater.
By giving business tax breaks or guaranteeing low interest loans on housing we could encourage internet start up companies to move here and take over some of the empty buildings left behind in our malls. Kenosha has inexpensive housing, low traffic, is located on beautiful Lake Michigan and has proximity to Milwaukee and Chicago. It is a desirable place to live.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced last month that a Spanish company will bring 270 manufacturing jobs to Milwaukee. Ingeteam manufactures wind turbines as well as creates construction jobs. It will be Ingeteam's first North American factory and we should be its second. We have factory space!
HellerforAlderman.com - Vote April 6th.
