Various State Grants Available to Help Ease the Burden of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Friday, November 12th, 2021 -- 11:01 AM

Wisconsinites can still apply for several grants to help ease the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tourism Capital Grant Program will provide up to $10 million for local and Tribal governments and tourism-related nonprofits to invest in shovel-ready tourism-related capital projects. Grants of up to $3.5 million will be awarded through a competitive application process.

Eligibility criteria and grant application materials for the Tourism Capital Grant Program, as well as information about an upcoming program webinar and Q&A submissions, are available on the program website: https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/TourismCapitalGrantProgram.aspx. The grant application will be administered by DOA and has been extended to November 19th.

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. Applications are open now through November 30th. Additional program and application information is available on the program website: https://doa.wi.gov/Pages/HealthcareInfrastructure.aspx 

The Main Street Bounceback Grants program provides $10,000 to new or existing businesses and non-profit organizations moving into vacant properties in Wisconsin’s downtowns and commercial corridors.

The program is open to new or existing businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant commercial space as of January 1, 2021. Grant funds are available as part of the American Recovery Plan Act and will be distributed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation regional partners.

Businesses must apply through the partner organization for the region in which they are located. Applications are open through June 30th, 2022. Additional information about the Main Street Bounce Back Grants is available here: https://wedc.org/programs-and-resources/mainstreet-bounceback-grants/

The Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program provides up to 12 months of assistance with current or overdue bills to help households that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic avoid eviction.

Nearly 18,000 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

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.