Starting July 1, Jim Paetsch will takeover as executive director of Milwaukee 7, the regional economic development entity that covers southeastern Wisconsin. 

Paetsch has been with M7 since it was started in 2005, but his work has primarily focused on corporate attraction and expansion. He doesn’t expect much of his job will change when it comes to trying to encourage companies to locate and expand in southeastern Wisconsin, but his new role will see him more involved in strategy and other aspects of the organization. 

One of the other areas M7 works in is talent attraction and development, an issue that was increasingly important prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and is back in the spotlight as businesses lament their inability to find workers as the economy continues to recover. 

Paetsch joined associate editor Arthur Thomas on the BizTimes MKE Podcast to talk about the work of corporate attraction, workforce development and the direction of M7. He also addressed the use of tax incentives, an often-criticized part of economic development work. 

BizTimes associate editor Arthur Thomas is joined by reporter Maredithe Meyer and editor Andrew Weiland to discuss the news of the week. Maredithe was in the arena for the Milwaukee Bucks playoff victory on Thursday and posted a slideshow Friday with scenes from the game and the crowd. She discusses the feeling of a return to live sports with a full capacity crowd and the scene surrounding the arena. Andrew discusses actions by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee involving two major projects in Milwaukee. The first is the Milwaukee Public Museum's plan to move to a new site in the coming years. Lawmakers so far have approved $40 million in funding to support that move, but even with state help the project will need a lot of private help. A plan to build a new state office building at 27th and Wisconsin, however, did not survive the latest round of votes and will likely be in limbo for at least another two years.

See photos of Bucks' playoff game victory with Fiserv Forum full of fans

Near West Side group still behind $164 million state office building project after lawmakers opt against funding it

Joint Finance Committee approves $40 million in state funds for new Milwaukee Public Museum

Lauren Anderson and Alex Zank join Arthur Thomas for the Weekly Debrief on the BizTimes MKE Podcast. They discuss Deshea Agree leaving the King Drive BID before previewing the Innovate Wisconsin issue of BizTimes Milwaukee. 

The annual Innovate issues publishes on June 7 with a cover story highlighting how Milwaukee Tool has used innovation to fuel a decade of remarkable growth. The entire issue delves into how the pandemic and events of the past year have altered the economy and created opportunities for companies to innovate and grow. 

BizTimes Media's Arthur Thomas and Andrew Weiland follow-up on a discussion from last week's episode where Andrew described the future site of a 32-story mixed-use tower in the Third Ward as one of those sites where it is hard to believe nothing significant has been developed. Andrew said there are a number of sites like that around the city, so Arthur asked him to put together a list of five with potential. Three of them are in or near downtown Milwaukee while the others are in Wauwatosa and Brookfield. 

Milwaukee Department of City Development commissioner Lafayette Crump spoke at the Rotary Club of Milwaukee recently, highlighting the city's comprehensive plan and development throughout the city. “We just have to find a way to implement the vision that exists in that plan and (I’m) really excited to see so many people trying to find ways to make everything we see on paper, to make those things a reality,” Crump said. He also touched on the need for community involvement in the planning and development process and praised Jim Barry III’s contribution to BizTimes’ “25 big ideas for Milwaukee’s future” feature in March. In the piece, Barry called for the full implementation of the city’s comprehensive plan.

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.

BizTimes Media associate editor Arthur Thomas is joined by editor Andrew Weiland and real estate reporter Alex Zank to discuss the week's big stories, including a plan from Houston-based Hines to build a 32-story, $140 million luxury mixed-use residential tower at a key gateway site in Milwaukee's Third Ward. They also touch on the cautious guidance increase Menomonee Falls-based retailer Kohl's offered this week after sales exceeded 2019 levels in March and April. Finally, Arthur previews his upcoming cover story on the business philosophy of Sheldon Lubar and his family. 

Joan Prince, retired vice chancellor of global inclusion and engagement at UW-Milwaukee, leads a conversation with Ellen Gilligan, president and CEO of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and JoAnne Anton, director of Herb Kohl Philanthropies, during a recent Tuesday program at the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. The group addresses the thinking leading philanthropists are bringing to addressing pressing issues in the community.

In partnership with the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.

BizTimes editors Andrew Weiland, Lauren Anderson and Arthur Thomas discuss the news of the week, including a title sponsor for the NASCAR race at Road America, background on how Rexnord and Regal Beloit's $3.69 billion merger came to be, and a whole lot of developments in the reopening of the economy.

The Weekly Debrief is a chance to quickly catchup on news of the week in the Milwaukee business world. Get the news delivered straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters and support our work by becoming an Insider. 

Jeff Hoffman, principal at Cushman & Wakefield│Boerke joins Arthur Thomas and Alex Zank of BizTimes Media to discuss the industrial real estate market in southeastern Wisconsin. Jeff goes into great detail on what his firm is seeing (or not seeing) from national developers, factors driving companies to move from Illinois (it isn’t just taxes and politics), where the next waves of industrial development could take place and how workforce shortages could shape industrial development going forward. 

Andrew Weiland, Lauren Anderson and Arthur Thomas of BizTimes Media discuss significant stories from the week, including The Couture finally moving forward, Summerfest announcing its lineup, Goodwill changing its headquarters, trade data showing economic activity picking up, more small businesses starting and passenger traffic taking off at Mitchell Airport.

Read more on these stories at BizTimes.com:

From Andrew:
- Construction work for The Couture to begin Wednesday
- The Couture had to overcome yet another financial hurdle, due to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Developer Rick Barrett lays out his ideal setup for Couture's 50,000 square feet of retail space

From Lauren
- Summerfest announces 2021 headlines
- Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin to move HQ to Milwaukee

From Arthur
- Wisconsin import growth outpacing exports in Q1, both up over pre-pandemic levels
- Mitchell Airport passenger volumes up 85% from February to March