MPTC Referendum Endorsed District-Wide

Over the last few months, Moraine Park Technical College’s Referendum has received the following community endorsements:

Beaver Dam Chamber of Commerce

“Our chamber board has endorsed this referendum due to its possible impact on the educational facilities and in turn the future workforce in our areas. The updates and improvements at Moraine Park would target programs in high demand that impact citizens across the region in the career areas of robotics/automation, public safety, manufacturing, technology, and health care.”

West Bend Area Chamber of Commerce

At the September meeting of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, the Board had an extended discussion regarding this referendum for Moraine Park Technical College. Following that discussion, the Board voted to publicly support the Moraine Park Technical College referendum.

The Chamber recognizes that this is not a light-hearted venture for Moraine Park Technical College to turn to its constituents and request their support in the way of a tax increase. The Chamber acknowledges the due diligence and expertise that Moraine Park Technical College has utilized to assess the needs of its district and the use of that data to determine the largest funding impact.

Why is the Chamber supporting this referendum?

To answer that question, we will begin with a recent manufacturing statistic and a quote from a health care report. According to the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, there are expected to be more than 14,000 manufacturing jobs open over the next 10 years. The Wisconsin Hospital Association’s 2022 Health Care Workforce Report shares early survey results stating “registered nurse (RN) vacancy rates in the double digits for the first time since 2005. The nursing shortage has arrived.”

Envision Greater Fond du Lac

In 2021, the Board of Directors approved the creation of an Advocacy Committee. As an organization, we actively pay attention to local, state, and federal policies and legislation that impact our ability to grow our local economy. At times, the Advocacy Committee will recommend positions on certain policy matters pertinent to Envision’s mission and vision to the Envision Board of Directors for review and ultimate decision.   

After review, the Advocacy Committee recommended the Envision Board support the following ballot items:

Moraine Park Technical College – Moraine Park Technical College has also done their due diligence. This referendum would fund necessary projects across their district. There are four proposed pillars as part of this project: Advanced Manufacturing & Trades, Manufacturing, Automation & Robotics Lab, Fire Training Facility, and Health & Human Services Facility.

Our vision is to drive greater economic opportunities within our engaged communities through talent led economic development. In general, strong schools are critical to growth in economic development and talent attraction. We know that educational attainment rates are important to site selectors, developers, and business attraction. Our higher-than-state average on high school graduation attainment puts us at an advantage for low-skilled, entry-level positions. About 38% of county residents achieved only a high school diploma compared to 32% state average.

City of Horicon

RESOLUTION NO. 2022-09

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING

MORAINE PARK TECHNICAL COLLEGE’S 2022 REFERENDUM FOR FACILITIES EXPANSION

WHEREAS, Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) is a public, non-profit, two-year College covering 2,450 square miles in east-central Wisconsin, comprised of most of Dodge County, including the City of Horicon, and all or portions of nine other counties; and

WHEREAS, MPTC offers more than 100 programs and degree options on three campuses and serves more than 18,000 students annually including many residents of the City Horicon and its employers; and

WHEREAS, MPTC has aging facilities that lack technology and equipment, and many technical college degrees and certificate programs require hands-on instruction; and

WHEREAS, the MPTC District Board has approved final ballot language for a referendum in the November election to borrow $55 million to enhance campus learning spaces to meet future student and regional workforce needs through four projects across Moraine Park campuses and communities, including a new fire training facility; and

WHEREAS, the proposed facilities updates and expansion across the MPTC District will create hands-on/specialized learning spaces that provide real world learning experiences required to perform tasks in settings that are dangerous, life threatening, and/or difficult to replicate in a traditional educational setting; and

WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City Horicon believes the approval of the referendum and the proposed expansion of MPTC facilities will be of significant benefit to the City of Horicon and its residents.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Horicon hereby expresses its strong support for the Moraine Park Technical College referendum and encourages its residents and those throughout the MPTC District to vote on November 8, 2022, to approve the referendum as necessary to expand MPTC facilities.

Written by Kristina Haensgen
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