Candidates Offer Ideas On Attracting Business

This is the fourth of five questions the six mayoral candidates answered for Racine County Eye. We’ll have more over the next few days. Their answers were submitted to Racine County Eye and lightly edited.

The primary election will be held Sept. 19. The two candidates with the most votes will then be on the ballot for the special election on Oct. 17.

Last week we highlighted their biographical information.

We asked the candidates:

How would you attract new businesses to Racine?

Austin Rodriguez

Tax incentives and entice new businesses on our beautiful scenery of the great lakes. Working with our entrepreneur and small businesses that need to scale up to encourage revenue and employment needs.

As mayor, I will work closely with our economic development department to provide tax incentives also other needs for job creators.

Wally Rendon

Utilize tax incentives, utilize White Box initiatives and work with Angel Investors who may want to invest in new or improve existing businesses. Use the office of the mayor to market our fair city. Work with the city administrator and Economic Development officer to create a 5-year plan to improve this great city.

Use the office of the mayor to market our fair city. Work with the city administrator and Economic Development officer to create a 5-year plan to improve this great city.

Sandy Weidner

Businesses are attracted to locations where they find a safe, stable community that offers them a pool of competent and reliable workers, access to the resources to produce whatever products they desire to, and efficient, reliable transportation resources to distribute those products to the larger market. We have work to do to create such an environment, perhaps most especially where transportation is concerned. That might be directed toward a revitalization of ground transportation (rails and roads) or “cyber-transport” of data products, which would require us to more effectively link to the “information superhighway” that is the internet. The latter strategy could require working to adjust state regulations that currently restrict some possibilities there.

We have work to do to create such an environment, perhaps most especially where transportation is concerned. That might be directed toward a revitalization of ground transportation (rails and roads) or “cyber-transport” of data products, which would require us to more effectively link to the “information superhighway” that is the internet. The latter strategy could require working to adjust state regulations that currently restrict some possibilities there.

Cory Mason

Foxconn represents not just one company, but an entire industry coming to our area. That will create hundreds of support businesses that the company depends on. Much as we created a supply chain for the automobile industry a century ago with companies like Modine, TwinDisc, Walker Muffler, Young Radiator, and others, we will need to develop those supply chain businesses here in Racine. I will work to make it easier to start a business here. I hear complaints from small business owners about how difficult it is to work with city hall; including permits, red tape, and high water fees. These make Racine a less inviting place to do business, and we need to change that. We can also do a better job of promoting start-up resources such as

I will work to make it easier to start a business here. I hear complaints from small business owners about how difficult it is to work with city hall; including permits, red tape, and high water fees. These make Racine a less inviting place to do business, and we need to change that. We can also do a better job of promoting start-up resources such as

That will create hundreds of support businesses that the company depends on. Much as we created a supply chain for the automobile industry a century ago with companies like Modine, TwinDisc, Walker Muffler, Young Radiator, and others, we will need to develop those supply chain businesses here in Racine. I will work to make it easier to start a business here. I hear complaints from small business owners about how difficult it is to work with city hall; including permits, red tape, and high water fees. These make Racine a less inviting place to do business, and we need to change that. We can also do a better job of promoting start-up resources such as

I will work to make it easier to start a business here. I hear complaints from small business owners about how difficult it is to work with city hall; including permits, red tape, and high water fees. These make Racine a less inviting place to do business, and we need to change that. We can also do a better job of promoting start-up resources such as Launchbox, WWIBC (Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation) which encourages more female and minority-owned businesses), and the Small Business Development Center. Immigrants are more likely to start a small business than their native-born peers, but with the level of discrimination in this country against people because of their national origin, we are holding those entrepreneurs back. This needs to stop. In the City of

Immigrants are more likely to start a small business than their native-born peers, but with the level of discrimination in this country against people because of their national origin, we are holding those entrepreneurs back. This needs to stop. In the City of Racine, 68% of businesses have fewer than five employees. Most of the new job growth that has occurred in this community has been in the small business sector.

Not only do we need to do a better job encouraging people to start small businesses, we also must help those businesses grow. I will work with the small business community to align capital and supply chain needs so that those businesses are growing and hiring right here in Racine.

Fabi Maldonado

The goal is to create a progressive culture that promotes the City of Racine as having a climate that encourages, supports and fosters the growth of businesses, the skills and education of our potential workforce, and the willfully collaborative and assistive local government of the city of Racine. Just some of my plans include clearing the entryway for entrepreneurship by removing the costly and oppressive obstacles for contributive businesses. The exchange we look to engage in between prospective companies and the city of Racine is to offer to them the most capable, resourceful, and diverse workforce that comes with a local government that passionately has worked for their benefit, and to receive these new businesses as assets to Racine communities.

Just some of my plans include clearing the entryway for entrepreneurship by removing the costly and oppressive obstacles for contributive businesses. The exchange we look to engage in between prospective companies and the city of Racine is to offer to them the most capable, resourceful, and diverse workforce that comes with a local government that passionately has worked for their benefit, and to receive these new businesses as assets to Racine communities.

Melvin Hargrove

I would seek input from the business community as I am establishing a business development plan for the city. This plan would be a part of a three-year strategic plan I would seek to establish for Racine. Attracting new businesses is too important not to have a specific plan from the city’s standpoint in how this can, should and will be done. My philosophy for success is to make sure successful people are at the table with me with their wisdom as well as their passion for this city.

Attracting new businesses is too important not to have a specific plan from the city’s standpoint in how this can, should and will be done. My philosophy for success is to make sure successful people are at the table with me with their wisdom as well as their passion for this city.