Last Week, I had the honor of hosting a tour of New Glarus Brewery for a bipartisan group of legislators and staff with founder Deb Carey. The brewery is celebrating its 30th anniversary and is the number one brewery in Wisconsin. Deb gave us a behind-the-scenes tour, along with talking about starting the brewery with her husband, Dan.
Deb is the first woman to found and operate a brewery in the United States. In 1993, Dan and Deb Carey converted an abandoned warehouse into New Glarus Brewing Company’s original Riverside Brewery. The first barrels rolled out in November of 1993 — the fastest microbrewery start-up ever. The Riverside location is still used today to make specialty Thumbprint and R&D series beers.
In 1997, Spotted Cow was introduced as the company’s signature beer! After returning home from a beer competition in England and seeing all the sheep everywhere as a tourist, Deb thought that when people visit Wisconsin, they must have the same feeling about seeing all the cows. The production of Spotted Cow was produced as their signature beer after their trip to England.
In 2006, the company expanded to the Hilltop location. The Riverside Brewery was running at full capacity and needed more room or land to grow. In order to keep up with the demands, Dan and Deb expanded their brewery to The Hilltop Brewery.
Today, New Glarus Brewing Company produces roughly 236,000 barrels of beer and is 12th in the total sales volume for craft beer in the country. Congratulations on 30 years and many more to come. Thank you to Deb and all of her staff for the tour! We all had a great time.
Workforce Development Highlights
Workforce Development was a significant focus for the Legislature during the budget cycle. The COVID-19 pandemic, rising costs, and inflation has hit small businesses particularly hard. In Wisconsin, the unemployment rate continues to hover around historic low rates; however, the labor force participation rate, a metric that measures the number of people participating in the workforce, is still lower than before the pandemic, indicating more people are remaining outside of the workforce.
To combat this issue, my legislative colleagues and I focused on investing in workforce development initiatives aimed at recruitment and retention efforts for small businesses. Over the next two years, the state will invest $2.8 billion in new and existing workforce development programs.
Tech and trade schools are a major element of the workforce development equation. In this budget, I supported several initiatives in this area, including a $7 million increase for youth apprenticeship programs. I have seen firsthand the success of youth apprenticeship programs in my district. These programs take high school seniors and match them with a local business in a trade field of interest to that student and combine classroom learning with on-the-job experience. I also supported a $10 million increase in technical school funding. Tech schools offer students an alternative to a 4-year degree at a lower cost and prepare them with the training needed to enter the skilled-trade industry.
I believe that these investments we made in the state budget will have a meaningful impact on Wisconsin’s workforce economy, particularly in rural areas. I continue to have conversations with small business owners throughout my district, talking to them about the successes they have had with recruitment and retention and the ongoing struggles they face. I look forward to continuing my work on workforce development through the remainder of this legislative session.
Celebrating 75 Years at Governor Dodge State Park
Governor Dodge State Park is celebrating 75 years this year. The park is named after Wisconsin’s first governor, Henry Dodge. Seventy-five years ago, Governor Dodge was initiated when 160 acres of an old farmstead north of the City of Dodgeville was gifted to the State by Iowa County. The state park is home to the City of Dodgeville and attracts many visitors to the State Park each year.
The park, which was initially farmland mixed with forests, has become a popular recreational area for hunting, fishing, and hiking. Although the land is no longer farmed, it still supports wildlife, vegetation, and fish. The park features various homestead remnants, such as spring houses and artifacts used for hunting and fishing. Wildlife such as turkeys, white-tailed deer, squirrels, rabbits, ducks, and grouse can be found in the park, providing wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities.
A small celebration will be planned in autumn to commemorate the park’s farmland, which now belongs to the people of Wisconsin. Those visiting the park during autumn can see fall, large and small, in the vegetation, animals, water, and geology.
Upcoming Community Events
Looking for something to do? Here is a list of in-district events happening around the 51st Assembly district.
● 8th year of Cruise-In Night will be Wednesday, August 16, at 4 p.m. on Main Street in Downtown Blanchardville. Local Business will be serving good and drink as well.
● Woodford Fire and EMS Steak and Corn Dinner Sunday, August 13, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ribeye Steaks, Sweet Corn, Potatoes, Baked Beans, and Dessert. $18 a meal and carry-outs are available.
— Rep. Todd Novak represents Wisconsin’s 51st Assembly District. He can be reached at 608-237-9151 or email rep.novak@legis.wisconsin.gov.
