The Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grants will provide $50 million in funding to local and Tribal governments or non-profit healthcare organizations to invest in capital projects that specifically support increasing access to healthcare for low income, uninsured, and underserved communities and the ability to respond to future pandemics response needs. Projects could include new or upgraded facility space that enables additional capacity for care within a community. Grants up to $20 million will be awarded through a competitive application process. 

The program is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act and will be administered by the Department of Administration (DOA). Applications are open now through November 30, 2021.

Additional program and application information is available on the program website: 

https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/HealthcareInfrastructure.aspx 

The Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program (WERA) provides up to 18 months of assistance with current or overdue bills to help households that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic avoid eviction. More than 25,000 Wisconsinites have already received help with rent and utilities statewide. Help is still available for eligible households through WISCAP agencies and Energy Services. The program is funded by the Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration.

Additional information about the Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program is available here: https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/WERA.aspx

Governor Evers and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) recently announced 11 regional recipients of the Workforce Advancement Initiative grants. The $20 million initiative is part of the $100 million Workforce Innovation Grant program, designed to support regional economic development  and tackle communities’ most pressing workforce challenges. 

DWD will administer the program through the local workforce development boards in partnership with community-based organizations to provide subsidized employment and skills training opportunities to participants, including a focus on those co-enrolled in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs. 

Additional information is available on the Workforce Advancement Initiative website: https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/workforce-solutions/wai/ 

The $15 million Destination Marketing Organization Grant Program will support local DMO organizations across the state to attract regional, national, and international visitors.  

Applications for the DMO grant program opened on Aug. 25, 2021, and closed Sept. 29, 2021. The program is funded by the ARPA and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) with guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism.

In total, 120 organizations received grants ranging from $2,000 to $1 million based on expenses incurred by eligible tourism-promotion and tourism development organizations. 

Additional information and full list of recipients is available on the Destination Marketing Organization Grant Program website: https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/DestinationMarketingOrganizationsGrantProgram.aspx 

The just announced $6 million Safe Shelter and Homelessness Grants will provide critical resources to homelessness shelters, domestic abuse shelters, and youth homelessness and runaway centers during the winters of 2021-22 and 2022-23. The grants will be funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars and split up into two programs. Up to $4 million will be made available through the State Shelter Subsidy Grant Program, which provides funding to shelter facilities, and will be administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA). Another $2 million will be allocated to funding for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF). 

The announcement coincides with Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and annual observance drawing attention to the number of Americans nationwide who experience hunger and homelessness.

Additional program information coming soon. 

Governor Evers and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) announced earlier this week that the state-funded FY22 Broadband Expansion Grant Program application will open Dec. 1, 2021. 

The PSC had recently announced the recipients of Broadband Access Grants for 83 projects that will expand fiber broadband internet to more than 28,426 residential and 1,490 business locations currently unserved and underserved. A map of current grant recipients is available here: https://psc.wi.gov/Documents/broadband/BbExpG51.pdf

Governor Evers recently announced a $2 million investment to support mental health and behavioral services for underserved communities, including Hmong and Southeast Asian Wisconsinites through the Project Resiliency initiative of the Wisconsin United Coalition of Mutual Assistance Association, Inc. (WUCMAA). The Wisconsin Department of Health Services will contract with WUCMAA to provide culturally sensitive services.

Additional information coming soon.

Governor Evers recently announced a $45 million investment in safer communities and violence prevention efforts, to bolster statewide research initiatives and community-based violence prevention solutions. 

• $25 million will go to violence prevention efforts, including:
• $6.6 million for the Medical College of Wisconsin's Violence Prevention Project, to support research, data collection, education, and community engagement efforts around violence prevention as a public health issue;
• $10.4 million for the MCW to administer a competitive grant process to support violence prevention efforts statewide;
• $8 million for the City of Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention to respond to pandemic-related trauma uptick;
• Nearly $20 million will support victim services through a grant program to be administered by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. 

Additional grant information coming soon. 

• Diverse Business Assistance Grant Program Application 
• Diverse Business Investment Grant Program Application
• Event Venue Grant Award Recipients
• Live Event Small Business Grant Award Recipients 
• Minor League Sports Teams Grant Award Recipients 
• Movie Theater Grant Award Recipients 
• Summer Camp Assistance Grant Award Recipients 
• Wisconsin Help for Homeowners  (plan has been submitted and awaiting U.S. Treasury approval before funds become available. Visit homeownerhelp.wi.gov for more information.)

We look forward to sharing additional updates on upcoming grant rollouts and announcements, to help Wisconsinites bounce back.