Republican lawmakers are circulating a bill that would help fund rural economic development around tourism, the arts and more.
Rep. Todd Novak, R-Dodgeville, and Sen. Romaine Quinn, R-Birchwood, recently sent a co-sponsorship memo to other lawmakers seeking support for the legislation. It would create a Rural Wisconsin Creative Economy Grant program under WEDC, offering matching grants up to $50,000 for rural communities across the state.
The bill authors say this “comprehensive approach” to creative economic development would involve plan development and implementation, marketing, branding and promotion. They argue both companies and workers “want to be in communities that have vibrant creative businesses” with options for exploring the arts and other cultural activities.
“Economic and community development leaders contending with the loss of industry and outmigration of young and skilled workers understand that civic, cultural, and artistic initiatives to revitalize downtowns, main streets, and communities will help their economies thrive,” they wrote.
Under the legislation, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. would be directed to award rural creative economy economic development grants to cities, villages, towns, counties, Native American tribes and bands, nonprofits and economic development groups in Wisconsin. Recipients would be required to match grant amounts with funding from nonstate sources.
These groups could use the grant dollars to develop or implement a plan to “increase tourism, enhance visitor experiences, or bolster community development” in rural parts of the state. That could include supporting or expanding public arts performances and exhibitions, renovating public spaces or vacant buildings and providing technical assistance to creative businesses.
Funding could also be used to “market, brand and promote” local creative businesses, public arts performances and shows and public spaces in rural communities.
The legislation is backed by Create Wisconsin, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Restaurant Association and a number of local and county-level groups.
While the individual grants would be capped at $50,000, a staffer in Novak’s office says the legislation doesn’t specify how much would be allocated to the grant program.
Also under the bill, WEDC would be required to report on the effectiveness of the grants to the Legislature’s powerful Joint Finance Committee by May 1, 2027.
The co-sponsorship deadline is noon Friday.
See the memo here.
