Head of Wisconsin economic development resigns

MADISON (AP) -- The head of the quasi-public economic development agency Gov. Scott Walker created last year has resigned.

Paul Jadin's decision to quit the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced Thursday comes after questions were raised earlier this year about how Jadin and the agency handled an offer of tax breaks to a company also bidding on a multimillion dollar state contract.

Jadin is leaving Nov. 1 to become president of Thrive, an economic development partnership for an eight-county region in south-central Wisconsin.

Jadin, the former mayor of Green Bay, was appointed in January 2011 by Walker to serve as the head of the new agency which replaced the Department of Commerce.

Jadin says in a statement he's proud of the work done by the agency during the short time he was there.

Gov. Scott Walker issued the following statement on Jadin's resignation: “I would like to thank Paul for his service to our state and for the great job he has done helping transform the old Department of Commerce into the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC),” said Governor Walker.  “Under Paul’s leadership, WEDC now has a strong foundation to build off of as it moves into the next phase of encouraging private sector job growth in Wisconsin.  I asked the WEDC board to help conduct a nationwide search for a top-caliber CEO.  I look forward to reviewing the recommendations made by the board in the near future.”