Calendar this!
League's next Member Roundtable via Zoom
May 25, 2021, 12:00-1:00
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American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
The US Treasury Guidance was released May 10 at noon. Information is based on an initial review. To stay informed, please read the League's Legislative Bulletin, join us for League Roundtables (our next one is May 25) and join the National League of Cities informational webinars.
- US Treasury and Wis. Dept. of Revenue Guidance.
- How to obtain a DUNS number for your municipality.
- Examples of tracking spreadsheets that you can download.
Reminder - Employer Requirements under ARPA
New COBRA Subsidy Requirements
One of the unexpected provisions of ARPA is a requirement that employers provide fully funded COBRA premiums for six months between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2021. This subsidy requirement applies to all employer-sponsored plans covered by state and/or federal health insurance continuation laws. Learn more.
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Assessing the State-Federal Infrastructure Push
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 - noon to 1PM - Free Webinar
By WisPolitics
Prospects for millions of dollars in new state and federal money for road, rail, broadband, and water infrastructure are bright. What's it mean for Wisconsin and local governments?
The program begins with a briefing from U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, followed by a panel discussion featuring: Wisconsin DOT Secretary Craig Thompson, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, Waukesha County Exec. Paul Farrow and Neenah Mayor Dean Kaufert, a former top GOP Assembly member. The event will then shift to questions from the audience.
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Join Us! Getting the Best R.O.I. on the Investment Made with The American Rescue Plan Act Fund Entrusted to Local Elected Officials
Wed, June 23, 2021, 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM - Free Webinar
Provided by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, Wisconsin Counties and Towns Associations and the UW-Wisconsin System
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RURAL BROADBAND - REGIONAL EXPANSION
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Is Your Muni on the List?
As of last night, 66 municipalities have adopted the League's Shared Revenue Resolution. Is your Municipality on the list? Are we missing you? Email Gail Sumi.
Take action, adopt the shared revenue resolution and let Legislators know that a strong partnership in the form of increased shared revenue funding makes your community stronger and leads to a thriving state.
Additional Advocacy Resources on that page:
Examples of Advocacy by League Members including:
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May 10 - ARPA Guidance Released
May 3 - State Budget Votes Begin this Week
April 26 - Final State Budget Hearing Wednesday is Virtual (link corrected)
April 19 - DUNS Number needed for ARPA Funds
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Baker Tilly's CommuniTIES: Municipal bond market trends and opportunities – a discussion with Dave Erdman, State of Wisconsin Capital Finance Director.
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Reminder - Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association Resources
Check out these Google spreadsheets to see what other munis are doing and add your own information to the list.
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Microsoft has identified four vulnerabilities targeting Exchange servers. Microsoft suggests that deployment of patches occur immediately.
- CVE-2021-31207: Microsoft Exchange Server Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability, Moderate, 6.6, disclosed
- CVE-2021-31195: Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability, Important, 6.5
- CVE-2021-31198: Microsoft Exchange Server Remote Code Execution Vulnerability, Important, 7.8
- CVE-2021-31209: Microsoft Exchange Server Spoofing Vulnerability, Important, 6.5 (siehe oben)
To be added to the distribution list for cyber security alerts and notifications, send an email asking to be added to Becky Voysey, the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Enterprise Technology.
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So You’ve Been Elected...
The League’s new booklet for newly elected officials has been described as
“Pithy yet entertaining and very insightful.”
Two free copies have been mailed to each League member municipality.
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The NEW Basic Financial Administration for Wisconsin Local Governments provides you with practical day-to-day instructions on managing local government finance. This new handbook was a joint effort by the League, the Wisconsin Towns Association, the Local Government Education Program of the University of Wisconsin Extension and the Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue. Order your copy.
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Register Now for these Upcoming League Workshops
Local Government 101
May 21 and June 4 via Zoom, Sept. 10 in Waupaca in person (capped at 65)
Please thank our sponsors!
Clerks, Treasurers & Finance Officers Institute
June 9-11, 2021 via Zoom
Please thank our sponsors!
This workshop is Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association credit eligible.
Chief Executives Workshops
August 19 & 20, 2021 (Early arrival reception 5:30pm Aug 18)
Hotel Retlaw, Fond du Lac
2021 Municipal Attorneys Institute
Monday -Wednesday!
August 30 – September 1, 2021
Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake
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WI Rural Partners Virtual Summit
3 of the Weekly 2-Hour Sessions remaining!
May 19 - May 26 - June 2nd
WI Rural Partners - The League is a proud Sponsor!
Broadband in Your Backyard! | Community Building in Your Small Town |
Top Rural Development Initiatives & Successes
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WisDOT Local Programs Statewide Local Program Symposium for the upcoming 2022-2027 funding cycle
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
The symposium will be streamed live via YouTube. Representatives from the WisDOT Regions, WisDOT Central Office, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the University of Wisconsin Transportation Information Center (TIC) will be presenting information regarding Local Program updates.
Prior to and during the symposium, questions about Local Programs may be submitted to: [email protected]. WisDOT staff will be monitoring this inbox for your questions and will respond during the symposium.
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'Summer Tourism Outlook: How will Wisconsin take advantage of a post-pandemic visitor surge'
Thursday, May 20, Noon- 1:00 p.m.
Join WisBusiness.com for a virtual lunch hour event featuring three tourism leaders -- Department of Tourism Acting Secretary Anne Sayers, Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging Association President and CEO Bill Elliott and Association of Wisconsin Tourism Attractions President Tom Diehl. The trio will discuss the state of the tourism industry in Wisconsin and how the political, health and economic climates may influence what Wisconsin's robust tourism industry will look like this summer.
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Housing + Hospitals in Rural Wisconsin
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 - 9:00 am – 11:00 am - Free Webinar
Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
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Business Attraction: Selling Your Community Assets
WEDA Academy Webinar
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
$45 for WEDA members; $65 for non-members. (Discount for multiple registrations by a single organization. Contact [email protected].)
Participants will be equipped with the fundamental tools to employ successful business attraction efforts.
If you are new to business attraction, would like a refresher, or want to introduce your board or local officials to important attraction concepts, don't miss out on this unique course – offered only through the WEDA Academy. Participants who complete the course will have a strong understanding of the following:
- How to prepare your community for business attraction opportunities
- Responding effectively to requests for proposals (RFP)
- The process and criteria used by site selection consultants
- Tips and best practices
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"Wisconsin has 72 Counties, 190 Cities, 1,246 Towns, and 414 Villages. It takes A LOT of people–more than 70,000 Wisconsinites–to do the nitty-gritty work that keeps our communities ticking."
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Click here to read Celestine's story on the League's LinkedIn page.
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Click here to read Dennis's story on the League's Facebook page.
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Click here to read Curtis's story on the League's Facebook page.
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Click here to read Jon Mark's story on the League's Facebook page.
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Click here to read Warren's story on the League's LinkedIn page.
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"Love Wisconsin is a digital storytelling project that celebrates our state, our lives, and our shared future. Our mission is to use storytelling and social media to bring about a more connected, compassionate, and engaged Wisconsin."
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Highlights - Opportunities
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Stronger Together: 2021 National Public Works Week, May 16-22
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DNR Announces $385,000 In Funding To Reduce Diesel Engine Emissions
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting applications for projects that reduce diesel emissions and improve Wisconsin’s air quality and human health.
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Lead-Free Water Challenge to help small municipalities and water systems (with a population size of roughly 5,000-35,000) interested in replacing lead service lines launch programs by offering technical assistance, connections to resources and funders, policy guidance, and information-sharing through peer networks. Deadline is June 15, 2021.
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WHEDA seeks projects for National Housing Trust Funds
Deadline is June 11 to apply for funds supporting creation of extremely low-income housing
The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority is seeking applications for a total of $1.3 million in National Housing Trust Fund financing targeting housing projects for people with extremely low incomes.
Eligible projects include those that received 2020 or 2021 federal 9% or federal and state 4% housing tax credits. Federal 4% projects will be eligible to apply so long as WHEDA is in receipt of a Housing Tax Credit Application. The housing trust fund financing is intended to expand the number of units available for households at or below 30% of area median income.
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New Data Punctures Persistent Myth of Women’s Representation
For the first time, the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, has collected nationwide data on women’s representation at the municipal level. This data, drawing on KnowWho Data Services information on incorporated cities and towns with populations over 10,000, per the U.S. Census, punctures a long-held myth that women are more abundantly represented in local politics than their share of seats in state and federal offices. In reality, women’s representation in municipal office – mayoral offices and city councils or similar bodies – is analogous to their representation at other levels: women hold less than one-third of seats in municipal governments nationwide. Women currently hold 30.5% of municipal offices in the country, while they hold 30.9% of seats in state legislatures and 26.5% of seats in the U.S. Congress.
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ELGL Diversity Dashboard
The first national data collection on gender, race/ethnicity, age, and prior education/work experience of local government leadership. ELGL is excited to launch our fourth full year of data collection!
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Reminder - DATCP Releases 2021 Clean Sweep Collections, Announces Changes To Grant Application Timeline
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's (DATCP) Clean Sweep Program has released its 2021 Clean Sweep Collections list. The list includes local governments that have received a grant to host a site or event that collects household hazardous waste, agricultural hazardous waste and very small quantities of hazardous waste from businesses.
The Wisconsin Clean Sweep Program has also announced that the grant application timeline has been changed from previous years. The 2022 Clean Sweep Grant application period will be announced April 19, 2021 and will close by May 28, 2021. Learn more about the Wisconsin Clean Sweep Program.
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Reminder - WISCONSIN CLEAN ENERGY TOOLKIT:
DEVELOPING A CLEAN ENERGY PLAN FOR YOUR COMMUNITY
A coalition effort led by Sierra Club, RENEW Wisconsin and Wisconsin Conservation Voters. Read it here.
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Examining and comparing Wisconsin school districts
Wisconsin Policy Forum
The newly updated School DataTool provides key education metrics for all 421 school districts in Wisconsin. It allows users to easily compare districts on these metrics, including student enrollment and demographics, school district finances and staffing, graduation rates, and several measures of student performance.
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The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) 2021 Board of Review (BOR) and Open Book information.
BOR and Open Book Calendar
· Entering information
o Use MyDORGov to access the Open Book and Board of Review Calendar (BOR-C)
o You must be authorized to file on behalf of the municipal clerk to enter information
Note: This form requires email authorization – the first time you access the form, you are asked to enter your email address
BOR Training Affidavit
Complete this affidavit after you attend a BOR training session, but before the BOR's first meeting.
A. State law requires
- One voting member from the BOR to attend a training session within two years of the BOR's first meeting
- Municipal clerk to provide DOR with an affidavit showing the training requirement was met
B. To complete the affidavit
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Access the BOR Member Training Affidavit (Form PA-107) from our website
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Note: This form requires email authorization – the first time you access the form, you are asked to enter your email address
- Go to the email message with the subject "Login authorization link" and click the provided link
- Select the PA-107 under Municipal Clerk – complete the form, save and/or print a copy for your records
C. Training opportunities
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Vaccinator Enrollment Information The Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine program is enrolling entities that wish to vaccinate. By enrolling in the program, entities and their vaccinators will be approved to administer COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin.
WI Dept. of Tourism, Office of Outdoor Recreation just launched a new website A great resource is the office’s popular Outdoors COVID-19 Toolkits published in partnership with the Department of Health Services and the Department of Natural Resources.
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Have a job posting, RFP or an item for sale or an item that you want purchase? The League can help you with that!
How to send us a post is detailed here. There is no cost to League members.
Go directly to see what's posted:
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Workshops/Training
by date
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WI Rural Partners Virtual Summit
3 of the Weekly 2-Hour Sessions remaining!
May 19 - May 26 - June 2nd via Webinar
WI Rural Partners - The League is a proud Sponsor!
Broadband in Your Backyard! | Community Building in Your Small Town |
Top Rural Development Initiatives & Successes
Charging Ahead with EVs: A Drive Electric Wisconsin Webinar
May 19, 2021 - 10:00 am - 11:00 am - Free Webinar
Hear from industry experts on the latest in EV trends, programs & grant opportunities from across the state!
WisDOT Local Programs Statewide Local Program Symposium for the upcoming 2022-2027 funding cycle
Wednesday, May 19, 2021 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Streamed on YouTube
Representatives from the WisDOT Regions, WisDOT Central Office, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and the University of Wisconsin Transportation Information Center (TIC) will be providing Local Program updates.
Prior to and during the symposium, questions about Local Programs may be submitted to: [email protected]. WisDOT staff will be monitoring this inbox for your questions and will respond during the symposium.
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The League's Local Government 101:
For New & Experienced Local Officials and Staff
May 21 and June 4 via Zoom, Sept. 10 in Waupaca in person (capped at 65)
Please thank our sponsors!
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Health Equity for Municipal Government
Friday, May 21, 1-2:30 p.m. CT
From sidewalks to zoning, municipal governments have a huge impact on health and well-being. This virtual training will discuss how municipalities can center health in decision making and highlight strategies to support healthy, sustainable, and economically resilient communities. The training will offer examples from Wisconsin communities working on this topic with clear, actionable lessons learned.
Housing + Hospitals in Rural Wisconsin
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 - 9:00 am – 11:00 am - Free Webinar
Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative
Property Management in Supportive Housing
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH)
Tuesday, May 25, 9:30 to 11 a.m. CST
Webinar
Bridges and Roads
May 27, 2021 - 3:00 p.m. - Free - Webinar
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and the American Society of Civil Engineers-WI Section
Wisconsin’s Bridges and Roads Infrastructure Report Card grades are C+ (mediocre: requires attention) and D+ (poor: at risk) respectively. The typical bridge is at or near the end of its design life and more than one-third of drivable roads are in fair or below condition. Yet, recent efforts by state decision-makers have stalled in addressing both long- and short-term funding needs.
Wisconsin’s Post-Pandemic Transportation Future
Wisconsin Policy Forum
Friday, June 4, 2021 | 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. via Webinar
How and when we travel has changed in the last 14 months, and there are plenty of questions about whether those changes will last, which transportation investments will be most effective, and how to create sustainable transportation and transit revenue structures.
Helping us explore these questions are our Forum Friday guests: Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson, MCTS President Dan Boehm, and City of Green Bay Transit Director Patty Kiewiz.
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Clerks, Treasurers & Finance Officers Institute
June 9-11, 2021 via Zoom
Please thank our sponsors!
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Transit and Aviation
Jun 17, 2021 03:00 PM Free - Webinar
League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and the American Society of Civil Engineers-WI Section
Wisconsin’s Aviation Report Card grade is C+ (between good: adequate for now & mediocre: requires attention) and Transit’s Report Card grade is D+ (between mediocre and poor: at risk).
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Chief Executives Workshops
August 19 & 20, 2021 (Early arrival reception 5:30pm Aug 18)
Hotel Retlaw, Fond du Lac
2021 Municipal Attorneys Institute
Monday -Wednesday!
August 30 – September 1, 2021
Osthoff Resort, Elkhart Lake
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Effective Electronic Public Meetings- Part 1- The Basics
$20.00
Local Government Education, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Effective Electronic Public Meetings- Part 2- Advanced Issues
$20.00
Local Government Education, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
Show Me the Money – Getting Started with Grants
$25.00
Local Government Education, League of Wisconsin Municipalities
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DNR Green Tier Legacy Communities - (29 Wisconsin Communities)
2020 Webinars include:
Salt Reduction Champions Share their Stories
The Importance of Net Zero Energy Buildings in Wisconsin’s Carbon-free Communities
Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI) Public Portal
Electric Vehicle Readiness in Wisconsin
Dane County Housing Summit Sessions Recordings Now Available!
Session 1 - Building Racial Equity and Inclusion, City of Sun Prairie
Session 2 - Developing Local Government Strategies and Missing Middle Market Housing
Session 3 - Small Format Single Family Housing and Using TIF for Workforce and Affordable Housing
Session 4 - Racial Discrimination in Housing
The Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program has been transferred to the UW–Madison Division of Extension’s Local Government Education Program
CPM is a nationally accredited management development program that prepares managers in federal, state, and local government and in tribal and nonprofit organizations for the challenges and unique demands of the public management profession. Learn more and register for classes.
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Learning for Justice - From the National Civic League
Go beyond trauma and struggle to examine the liberation, civic engagement, creativity and intersecting identities of Black people during Black History Month. Teaching Tolerance shared this article by Coshandra Dillard, which offers resources on teaching a more complete, accurate, and humanizing account of Black experiences in the U.S. and beyond. Read more.
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Celebrate Clerks! May 2–8, 2021, was the 52nd Professional Clerks Week and the League is celebrating with this The Municipality magazine.
As part of the celebration, the League was thankful to partner with the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association (WMCA) on a magazine cover contest. Congratulations to Tina Wallace, WCMC, Deputy City Clerk, City of Oconomowoc whose image was chosen for the magazine cover. All the contest entries are included in the magazine and are posted to the Special Album on the League’s Facebook page.
Thank you to everyone who entered and to all Wisconsin Clerks!
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Thanks to the Green Tier Legacy Communities staff at the WDNR for putting these lists together. Learn more about how your municipality can benefit from the popular and growing Green Tier program for local governments founded by the League and others in 2010.
July
August
September
Grants
Loans
Year-Round Opportunities
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Thanks to the Daniel Foth, Local Government Education Specialist at Local Government Education for this list.
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USDA is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under USDA B&I CARES Act Program provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Webinar for Lenders and Webinar for Businesses and Producers. Application Deadline: September 15, 2021, or until funds are expended.
EPA Funding for Water Projects
USDA
Also known as the Section 504 Home Repair program, this provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. Ongoing.
ReConnect Pilot Program Application
USDA
The application window for the second round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program opened January 31, 2020.
These funds will enable the federal government to continue to partner with the private sector and rural communities to build modern broadband infrastructure in areas with insufficient internet service. Insufficient service is defined as connection speeds of less than 10 megabits per second download and 1 megabit per second upload. ReConnect funding applications can be submitted at www.usda.gov/reconnect.
Dam removal grant applications are being accepted and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the funding is depleted. This grant program provides 100% reimbursement up to a maximum award of $50,000. Eligible applicants include any Wisconsin City, Town, Village, County, Tribe, public inland Lake Protection and Rehabilitation district or any other dam owner. Grant application materials are available on the DNR's Dam Removal Grant Program web page: https://dnr.wi.gov/Aid/DamRemoval.html
Rural Feasibility Study Grant Program
Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America
To fund feasibility studies that may result in economic development and improved community assets for rural areas in Compeer’s 144-county territory in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Through this grant program we are helping to ensure a strong future in rural America. Eligible feasibility studies may include:
- Market research
- Cost analysis
- Financial projections
- Assessment of suitable facilities, equipment, etc.
- Development of a business plan
Location – project must be located in Compeer’s 144-county territory in Minnesota, Illinois or Wisconsin.
Eligible Applicants - Non-profit organizations serving rural areas, educational institutions, and state, county, local or tribal governments are eligible to apply.
Applications will be accepted until all funds are awarded. Learn more
Grants and cooperative agreements made under these programs are designed to leverage existing regional assets and support the implementation of economic development strategies that advance new ideas and creative approaches to advance economic prosperity in distressed communities.
Location: Nationwide
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
U.S. Economic Development Administration assistance helps communities/regions devise and implement long-term economic recovery strategies. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Wisconsin Dept of Tourism Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant Program offers funding and guidance to make a promotion or event come to fruition. The grant reimburses Wisconsin non-profit organizations for qualified advertising costs. There are five categories of JEM grants with various deadlines. More information here.
USDA Rural Development offers direct home loans for very-low- and low-income applicants. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Funds available to nonprofit organizations to help very-low- and low-income families build their own rural homes. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Loans help very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes. Grants help elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. Application Deadline: Ongoing
USDA Rural Development program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Application Deadline: Ongoing
Economic Development Administration (EDA) supports development in economically distressed areas by fostering job creation and attracting private investments under their Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Programs which have included past funding awards for water/wastewater projects and road infrastructure projects. Application Deadline: Ongoing
USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Services offers this program to provide financing for the construction, maintenance, improvement and expansion of telephone service and broadband in rural areas. Application Deadline: Ongoing
USDA Rural Development provides loans to intermediaries to establish revolving loan funds and to provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs. Application Deadline: Ongoing
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Have a job posting, RFP or an item for sale or an item that you want purchase? The League can help you with that!
How to send us a post is detailed here. There is no cost to League members.
Go directly to see what's posted:
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League Handbooks
The following Handbooks are now available as a PDF at a reduced price for email delivery.
- Handbook for Wisconsin Municipal Officials - PDF Available!
- Handbook for Wisconsin Police and Fire Commissioners - Completely updated in Jan. 2019. PDF Available!
- Municipal Licensing and Regulation of Alcohol Beverages - Completely updated in Sept. 2019. PDF Available!
Physical PRINT copies of ALL Handbooks are also still available but on a delayed weekly shipping basis. You can order Handbooks online here
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www.lwm-info.org
SUBSCRIBE to the League’s Legislative Bulletin, Capitol Buzz and E-Newsletter – sign up here.
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