La Crosse County’s Economic Support staff delivered an outstanding achievement last year: an error rate of just 0.67% for FoodShare payments in our region.

This number is a reflection of the quality and precision of the County employees who determine eligibility for FoodShare. It also means thousands of our neighbors are getting the right benefits at the right time.

To put this in perspective, the state average error rate for the same period was 5.7%. Our region’s performance is among the best in the nation, ensuring nearly 10,000 people in La Crosse County receive accurate benefits through Wisconsin’s SNAP program.

What does "error rate" mean?

It measures payment accuracy—whether someone gets more or less than they should or is incorrectly deemed eligible. Beginning in 2028, states with error rates above 6% risk losing federal funding. The low rate achieved by County staff also comes while they are working through new FoodShare work requirements, which have added administrative burden.

La Crosse County leads the Western Region for Economic Assistance, which includes Buffalo, Pepin, Trempealeau, Jackson, Vernon, Monroe, Clark, and La Crosse counties.

The County's Economic Support Team is not just accurate, they're also compassionate. In a recent customer survey:



• 95% of respondents said they were treated fairly and with respect.
• 91% reported overall satisfaction with services.

$500k for Small Businesses, Housing and the Arts

La Crosse County has $500,000 available in 2026 to invest in small businesses, housing, and arts projects. Our updated grant programs include:

• Innovation and Diversification Grant – For existing small businesses (5+ years old) looking to invest in growth. Awards: $2,500–$20,000.
• SEED Grant – For entrepreneurs and startups less than two years old with potential to scale and create jobs paying over $50,000/year. Awards: $1,000–$10,000.
• Acquisition & Demolition Grant – For new residential projects facing barriers. Awards: Up to $50,000 (Single-Family) or $100,000 (Multi-Family).
• Arts & Culture Grant – To support new or existing art and culture installations, festivals, and programming. Awards: $500–$6,000.

Grants will be awarded by the County’s new Economic Development Advisory Committee.

Learn more about these programs here or contact Sam Bachmeier, Community Development Specialist, at sbachmeier@lacrossecounty.org.

Check out the Highway Department's 2025 Impact Report for a quick look at last year's accomplishments, and what's ahead in 2026.

Since 2021, our Highway team has made significant strides in improving road conditions—reducing the number of County roads rated as “poor” by 67%, from 53 miles down to just 17. A further seven miles of roadway currently rated as ‘poor’ will be reconstructed this year. Read the Impact Report here.

Honoring Women Veterans

La Crosse County and Western Technical College are proud to again host the I Am Not Invisible (IANI) Women Veterans History Project, honoring the service and experiences of women who have served in the military.

Photo sessions are February 11 and 12 in the Coleman Center at Western Technical College. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum will arrange oral history interviews after the photo shoot. Women Veterans may sign up for the photo shoot here.

The IANI official portrait unveiling and reception will be held on March 18.

The photos/oral history interviews will expand the IANI Collection for the Wisconsin Veterans Museum. You can view the collection here. We will also feature the photos online at the La Crosse County Veterans Services page.

A newly updated digital map provides a guide to food resources across La Crosse County.

This interactive tool shows farmers markets, food pantries, meal sites, community gardens, grocery and convenience stores, and retailers that accept FoodShare (SNAP) and WIC benefits. You can also see walk times to resources, view poverty rates and households without vehicles, and find resources for specific groups.

Explore the map here (Tip: click on the layers icon in the top right corner to see more).

The map was created by UW-La Crosse Geography and Environmental Science students in partnership with the La Crosse County Health Department. Updates include new categories and layers to make finding food easier for everyone.