January 16, 2024 - Introduced by Representatives Joers, Vining, C. Anderson, J. Anderson, Baldeh, Conley, Considine, Emerson, Hong, Jacobson, Madison, Moore Omokunde, Neubauer, Ortiz-Velez, Palmeri, Ratcliff, Shankland, Shelton, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Stubbs and Subeck, cosponsored by Senators Roys, Agard, Carpenter, L. Johnson, Larson, Spreitzer, Taylor and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Tourism.
AB963,,22An Act to create 20.192 (1) (br) and 238.129 of the statutes; relating to: main street bounceback grants and making an appropriation. AB963,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill appropriates $25,000,000 in general purpose revenue in each year of the 2023-25 fiscal biennium for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to award grants to provide assistance to businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant commercial space. WEDC already administers such a program, which is nonstatutory, with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Under the bill, WEDC must establish eligibility requirements and other policies and procedures for grants awarded under the bill that are substantially similar to the eligibility requirements and policies and procedures in effect on June 30, 2023, for the Wisconsin Tomorrow Main Street Bounceback Grant program administered by WEDC. Additionally, WEDC may not award a grant under the bill to a nonprofit organization.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
AB963,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: AB963,15Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: AB963,26Section 2. 20.192 (1) (br) of the statutes is created to read: AB963,,7720.192 (1) (br) Main street bounceback grants. The amounts in the schedule for grants awarded under s. 238.129. AB963,38Section 3. 238.129 of the statutes is created to read: AB963,,99238.129 Main street bounceback grants. (1) Grants. From the appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (br), the corporation may award grants to provide assistance to businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant commercial space. AB963,,1010(2) Eligibility. (a) Subject to par. (b), the corporation shall establish eligibility requirements and other policies and procedures for the grants awarded under sub. (1) that are substantially similar to the eligibility requirements and policies and procedures in effect on June 30, 2023, for the Wisconsin Tomorrow Main Street Bounceback Grant program administered by the corporation. AB963,,1111(b) The corporation may not award a grant under this section to a nonprofit organization.
