Page 13 - Forward Analytics News Today

It's the largest ballooning event on earth and one of the most photographed happenings in the world. ...

Population projections show our area is rapidly aging. That promises to put even more strain on employers seeking people to fill jobs, and many of those employers are already struggling to find enough workers. But despite those trends, a new program in the School District of Rhinelander might help fill the gap for employers and their future workers. “It’s clear that there is a tremendous need for staff and skilled employees in almost all business areas, not only Rhinelander, but really ever...

Wisconsin state and local governments are projected to receive nearly $6 billion from the federal COVID-19 relief bill signed last week, making what was once thought to be a rocky state budget situation even smoother. The COVID-19 pandemic that took hold in Wisconsin one year ago brought with it an economic downturn that saw sharp declines in economic activity paired with employment and stock prices in some ways similar to the Great Recession a decade earlier. But despite some fears the economi...

Major gaps in broadband access plague rural areas of Wisconsin where hundreds of thousands of people are going without high-speed internet. Yet, local governments might play a unique role in identifying underserved areas and connecting internet providers to programs that can help pay for broadband infrastructure. The findings are part of a report from research firm Forward Analytics that examined data on broadband deployment from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for 2019, the most re...

A proposed project in Douglas County is currently being considered for a 2021 grant. Written By: Maria Lockwood | × A Public Service Commission of Wisconsin map detailing different levels of broadband access within Douglas County as of December 31, 2018. (Courtesy of the PSC) Broadband access in Wisconsin is essential. That’s the message Gov. Tony Evers sent during his State of the State address Jan. 12. “This pandemic has underscored — and in some ways, exacerbated — ...

"We bounced back big for about three months," he said. "But all of the economic indicators have really begun to slow and lag over the last few months of 2020. Thats been a concern as we look forward in terms of how long is this recession going to last." The report, which looks at data from March to November, found the accommodation, food service, and arts and entertainment industries have been hit the hardest by the pandemic. In November, employment in the arts and entertainment industry still...

Governor emphasizes support for broadband, conservation

New reports documenting how COVID-19 widened the gap between Wisconsin’s broadband “haves” and “have-nots” show why Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proclaimed 2021 the Year of Broadband Access and promised to include about $200 million in his budget to close that gap. The Governor’s Commission on Rural Prosperity, UW-Extension researchers and Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp reached the same conclusions: Rural communities and low-income households without 25 megaby...

Rural areas and urban poor left out. Evers calls 2021 the "Year of Broadband Access." By Steven Walters - Jan 25th, 2021 02:17 pm //end headline wrapper ?> Laptop. (CC0 Public Domain) New reports documenting how COVID-19 widened the gap between Wisconsin’s broadband “haves” and “have nots” show why Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proclaimed 2021 the “Year of Broadband Access” and promised to include about $200 million in his budget to close that gap. Th...

Is fiber optic the best choice for broadband internet access? CRAWFORD COUNTY - When Bug Tussel CEO Steve Schneider said he was withdrawing his proposal to partner with Crawford County on a PSC grant application for the installation six cell towers to provide fixed wireless internet, some county supervisors were dismayed. These supervisors voted against a motion to table the resolution of support for the proposal. However, the board voted 8-7 to table the proposal. So far, Bug T...