CARW President & CEO Tracy Johnson represented the commercial real estate brokerage industry on a policy and advocacy panel at the Wisconsin Governor’s Conference on Economic Development, hosted by the Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA). She was joined by Jerry Deschane of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Michael Welsh of WEDA, and Jim Villa of NAIOP Wisconsin.
While each organization represents a different constituency, the panel highlighted how closely aligned these groups are—and how often they work together—to advance Wisconsin’s economic competitiveness. Just as importantly, the conversation reinforced a shared commitment to pushing back on policy proposals that would create uncertainty, limit local flexibility, or discourage private investment.
Shared priorities discussed included:
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Increasing housing supply, particularly workforce and attainable housing
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Protecting and responsibly leveraging Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as a critical local economic development tool
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Making smart, strategic investments in infrastructure to support long-term growth
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Opposing policies that undermine economic development, job creation, and community investment
CARW’s presence at the table ensures members’ voices are part of these statewide conversations—and reflects the value of collaboration among real estate, municipal, labor, and economic development leaders in shaping policy that supports growth across Wisconsin. More information on CARW Policy work can be found HERE.