W-I-B Concerned About Increase in Contracts Awarded to Out-of-State Companies

Wisconsin Independent Businesses (WIB) is concerned about an uptick in municipal public works projects being awarded to out-of-state contractors.  New data show a 42-percent increase in taxpayer-funded work went to out-of-state companies from 2015 to 2018.  President John Gard said, “W-I-B members, Wisconsin-based contractors, and the local workforces they employ, who are key to the success of our State’s economic strength, are deeply troubled by this trend.”  Gard claims that Wisconsin lost 329-million dollars in economic activity last year by having out-of-state contractors perform local, taxpayer-funded projects.  He’s calling for stronger measures to keep “Wisconsin projects with Wisconsin employers.”