Wood County Selected for Thrive Rural Program

Monday, February 12th, 2024 -- 4:00 PM

(Joe Schulz, Wisconsin Public Radio) A new state program will give 10 rural communities across Wisconsin access funding and resources to help meet their economic development goals.

According to Joe Schulz with Wisconsin Public Radio, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. this week announced that the communities participating in the Thrive Rural program will have access to up to $25,000 in grants, as well as two years of technical assistance in planning and grant writing.

Missy Hughes, secretary and CEO of WEDC, said the program aims to help level the playing field for rural communities seeking state and federal grants. She said small communities often face disadvantages competing for grants due to lack of staffing at the local government level.

“The technical assistance that’s going to be provided through these grants is the critically important component,” Hughes said. “$25,000 is great, but having access to the economic development professionals that have a view of how these things get done in the most efficient and smooth way is really going to be the value that these grants offer.”

WEDC’s Office of Rural Prosperity will partner with local economic development organizations to work with communities on projects related to small business development, housing, community development and sustainable energy.

Wood County is participating in this program. Those 10 participants were selected out of about 30 applicants. Each applicant had to detail a specific project or goal they wanted to accomplish, Hughes said.

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