ProGov21 Policy Library

When public money is invested in development projects, the community must hold developers accountable for the benefits they were promised. This report examines Milwaukee's proposed Iron District soccer stadium and outlines how to create effective community benefits agreements (CBA)....

Wisconsin ranks among the worst states in the nation for racial inequality. This report finds Wisconsin's racial disparities rank as one of the worst for infant mortality, bachelor's degrees, incarceration, and unemployment. It recommends training a diverse teaching workforce, raising...

Wisconsin's low-wage workers are struggling because the state has refused to raise the minimum wage since 2009, and has even failed to adjust it for inflation. This report shows that raising the minimum wage (and enforcing that increase) would improve economic growth, support employers...

Public funding deals for sports stadiums are bad investments that municipalities should not pursue, but can be improved by Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs). Stadium deals divert funds from education and infrastructure while producing low-quality jobs. Transparent and enforceable...

Low-wage service sectors employ an ever-greater share of Milwaukee's workers but offer insufficient hours, unpredictable schedules, and rarely provide health insurance. This report examines socioeconomic disparities between three segments in suggests increasing worker power, strengthening...

Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) are negotiated between private developers, labor organizations, and community stakeholders to ensure large-scale developments create high-quality jobs during and after the construction phase. This report examines how the Milwaukee Area Service and...

Community wealth building is an approach to local economic development that balances growth with community benefits. This brief examines promising new community wealth building projects in Detroit, Nashville, and Lafayette, and highlights best practices like relationship building...