Developing Story is Not a Pretty One in Cudahy

Not much surprises me anymore, but the email I received from Lara Fritts on Thursday did.

The message from the Cudahy economic development director had a simple, but pleading, subject line: “Please Help!”

Inside was a pretty amazing scenario. You can see the full email text here. I’ll give you a summary …

Lara is a full-time economic development director, and she has two part-time interns. Last week, the Cudahy Finance Committee approved a budget that cut the two interns. Then, at another meeting last night, the Finance Committee re-opened the Cudahy Economic Development Department budget — and proceeded to cut Lara’s hours to part time, and her salary to $40,000 per year. And this was done without Lara in attendance. (She was teaching a course at UW-Milwaukee.)

“The rationale provided,” Lara wrote in her email, “was there was more development that occurred with the previous part-time position.”

Wow. While Lara says this decision isn’t final — the reduction in hours and salary still must go before the Personnel Committee and the whole budget still must be approved by the council — the fact that it is even under consideration is surprising.

I realize times are tough for communities, and Cudahy is no exception. Neither is South Milwaukee.

But now is NOT the time to be cutting back on economic development. Now is the time to invest in that area. Just as it is in the private sector, you invest in your core during times of struggle so you can emerge even stronger on the other side. And I can’t think of a more core mission for local government than economic development.

That said, South Milwaukee does what it can in this area. We hold our own with one person (Danielle Devlin) working hard to lead our economic development efforts, oversee our TIF districts and manage our Parkcrest housing development. It’s not ideal. I’d actually like to see us move toward one full-time economic director down the road. It’s an investment that pays countless dividends for communities likes ours.

Cudahy is a great example of this. Our neighbor to the north is nothing short of a model for proactive economic development for small cities.

Consider some of the accomplishments of the city’s economic development team in the past year or so:

• Teaming with representatives from South Milwaukee, St. Francis and others to lead the South Shore Economic Advancement Consortium;
• Developing and executing a unique city-wide open house concept;
• Delivering a new and improved farmers’ market;
• Launching a successful Facade Improvement Program; and
• Bringing the South Shore Cyclery Classic bike race to town.

Those are just some of the things that immediately came to mind. There are more.

What happens to these and other similar initiatives if the proposed cuts become a reality? It remains to be seen.

After all, there is still time for Cudahy to do the right thing here. Investing in economic development is the right thing.