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North Central Wisconsin
Regional Planning Commission
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Serving Adams, Forest, Juneau, Langlade, Lincoln,
Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Vilas, and Wood Counties since 1973
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
New Transportation Funding Available for Small Communities
NCWRPC Releases North Central Wisconsin Regional Recovery Dashboard
NCWRPC Adopts Economic Resilience Amendment to CEDS
Main Street Bounceback Grant Program Update
Wisconsin Receives $40 Million to Expand Access to High-Speed Internet
EMSI Analyst Reports
NCWRPC Commissioners
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New Transportation Funding
Available for Small Communities
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The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has just announced the availability of additional funding for transportation projects for local roads and bridges as well as safe routes to school and other bike/ped projects. The funding is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
There is $2 million available for local roads not typically eligible for federal funding. These include roads functionally classified as a Minor Collector or Local Road located in a community of 50,000 or less population that is not part of a designated metropolitan area. Applications must be for construction projects with designs already completed.
There is also significant funding available for both design and construction of local bridge rehab or replacement projects. The bridge must appear on WisDOT’s eligibility list to qualify for funding.
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Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding is available for bike/ped and safe routes to school projects. The bulk of this funding is targeted toward rural communities under 5,000 in population, however, some funding is available for larger areas. WisDOT has simplified the application process as well as the delivery of projects for the small, rural communities through a new program called Safe Transportation Alternatives for Rural School or STARS. Applicants can select from predefined project packages to implement non-infrastructure, Safe Routes to School Programming in their community or school district. Program activities can include walk & bike audits, walk & bike to school day implementation, frequent walker programs, walking school buses, Project RADAR and bicycle curriculum.
Application deadline for all of these programs is March 24, 2023. Questions can be emailed to WisDOT at: [email protected]
Application materials and background information including bridge list are available on the WisDOT website. WisDOT is planning informational webinars on each of these funding opportunities, and the NCWRPC will distribute details on these webinars as soon as it becomes available.
If you have questions or need assistance in applying, the NCWRPC may be able to help. Contact Darryl Landeau at [email protected] or 715-849-5510 ext. 308. |
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NCWRPC Releases North Central Wisconsin
Regional Recovery Dashboard
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As part of our continuing Regional Recovery Planning efforts, the NCWRPC has released the North Central Wisconsin Regional Recovery Dashboard. As the Region continues to recover from the pandemic and build towards a more prosperous future, local communities and organizations can use the Regional Recovery Dashboard to help track the Region's progress on issues that were identified in the Regional Recovery Plan as crucial to the prosperity of North Central Wisconsin.
The North Central Wisconsin Regional Recovery Dashboard tracks key metrics in the following areas:
- Broadband
- Childcare
- Housing & Transportation
- Workforce & Talent Attraction
- Tourism & Hospitality
- Economic Indicators
- Social Indicators
Evaluating these metrics over time will allow the NCWRPC to track the progress of economic recovery and resilience efforts within the Region and will help to highlight areas of success within the Region as well as areas where improvements are necessary in order to boost recovery and resilience efforts.
For more information about the North Central Wisconsin Regional Recovery Dashboard, please contact Eric Sonnleitner at [email protected] or by calling 715-849-5510, Extension 306. |
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NCWRPC Adopts Economic Recovery Amendment
to CEDS
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On October 26th, the North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission officially adopted an amendment to their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to include an Economic Recovery Chapter.
The Economic Recovery Chapter examines how we can improve economic recovery throughout North Central Wisconsin by addressing issues facing each of the five foundational pillars expected to have a major impact on the future prosperity of the North Central Wisconsin Region. Addressing these issues will help the Region better respond to, withstand, and ultimately avoid future economic shock events.
For more information about the addition of the Economic Recovery Chapter to our CEDS, please contact Eric Sonnleitner at [email protected] or by calling 715-849-5510, Extension 306.
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Main Street Bounceback Grant Program Update |
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The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is partnering with the NCWRPC to administer the Main Street Bounceback Grants program which provides $10,000 grants to new or existing businesses and non-profit organizations moving into vacant properties in Wisconsin's downtowns and commercial corridors.
To date, the NCWRPC has received approximately 500 applications for the Main Street Bounceback Grants program and has awarded 438 applications throughout the Region. Please note that the NCWRPC will stop accepting applications after 12/31/2022.
Eligible businesses can use the grant funds for lease or mortgage payments, operating expenses, building repairs, tenant improvements, and other qualified expenses. Funds cannot be used on storage spaces or for residential uses.
As part of this program, the NCWRPC is providing one-time funds to organizations that have leased or purchased vacant commercial properties as of January 1, 2021 or will do so by December 31, 2022. New or established businesses and non-profit organizations are all eligible, as long as you are not vacating another existing commercial space in Wisconsin.
Click here to learn more about the Main Street Bounceback Grants program. If your organization is interested in applying, please fill out the interest form on the bottom of the page to be contacted by someone at our organization. You can also visit our website to find application materials and learn more about the application process. Interested applicants can contact us directly via email at: [email protected] or by phone at 715-849-5510.
To download an application, please click here. Note that completed applications should be sent to [email protected].
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Wisconsin Receives $40 Million
to Expand Access to High-Speed Internet
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As part of the American Rescue Plan's Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, the State of Wisconsin has received $40 million to invest in broadband infrastructure projects that will provide high-quality internet to locations that lack access to adequate service.
The State estimates that this $40 million investment will connect 8,000 households and businesses throughout the state to high-speed internet. The State’s award will fund the Wisconsin Broadband Infrastructure Projects program, a competitive grant program that aims to invest in broadband infrastructure projects designed to provide consistent, reliable service to households that currently lack consistent speeds of 100/20 Mbps. The program is designed to provide internet service with speeds of 100/100 Mbps symmetrical to locations upon project completion.
The $40 million that Wisconsin received from the Capital Projects Fund will complement $100 million in American Rescue Plan funds the State has already committed for its State Broadband Expansion Grant Program. In total, the State estimates that the $140 million in combined funding will serve more than 31,000 residential and business locations throughout the state. An announcement from the Public Service Commission that includes application information for the $40 million in funding is forthcoming.
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The NCWRPC continues its partnership with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to provide economic development analysis data throughout the Region. A comprehensive economic modeling program, called Analyst, developed by Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) is a tool that provides industry/ occupation data, impact assessments, and economic base analysis information.
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Adams County
Rocky Gilner
Rick Pease
Jami Gebert
Juneau County
Jerry Niles
Kenneth Winters
Betty Manson
Lincoln County
Loretta Baughan
Gene Simon
Hans Breitenmoser
Oneida County
Ted Cushing
Harland Lee
Steven Schreier
Vilas County
Robert Hanson
Jay Verhulst
Appointment Pending
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Forest County
Cindy Gretzinger
Paul Millan
William Chaney
Langlade County
Reinhardt Balcerzak
Angela Close
Ronald Nye
Marathon County
Daniel Guild
Craig McEwen
David Oberbeck
Portage County
Allen Haga Jr.
John Pavelski
Larry Raikowski
Wood County
Jason Grueneberg
Douglas Machon
Dave LaFontaine
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North Central Wisconsin
Regional Planning Commission
210 McClellan Street, Suite 210
Wausau, WI 54403
715-849-5510
Fax: 715-849-5110
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