Wisconsin giving communities $115M to improve community facilities, broadband access

The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) is providing more than $115 million in grants for local and tribal communities to support the expansion and improvement of public facilities like libraries, community centers and multiuse buildings.

Funds will also go toward tackling issues related to high-speed internet access, affordability and adoption.

These grants are being provided through the DOA’s Flexible Facilities Program (FFP), which is funded by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF) as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

Wisconsin received $189 million from the CPF for several programs, including the FFP, the CPF Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program, and the Digital Connectivity and Navigators Program at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC).

The FFP funds projects to improve digital and broadband access issues worsened by the coronavirus pandemic, focusing on helping disadvantaged populations most affected by the pandemic with limited or no access to broadband.

Projects must offer new, renovated or expanded facilities, as well as broadband/high-speed internet service and other digital tools that support remote work, education and telehealth.

At least $20 million in FFP grants will go toward building, renovating or expanding public libraries, along with upgrading technology and connectivity.

“We’ve seen a lot of interest in these projects to remove barriers and expand vital broadband services for Wisconsinites,” DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld says. “I’m excited about the variety of projects these grants will help support across the state.”

Since 2019, Wisconsin has dedicated more than $345 million in state and federal funds to expand high-speed internet access, the largest such investment in the state’s history. These funds have enabled the PSC to grant assistance to over 410,000 homes and businesses, helping them gain access to new or improved broadband services.

The governor’s latest budget proposal allocates an additional $750 million in state funding for broadband expansion to complement the federal funding being funneled to the state in the coming years.

The FFP is available to all local and tribal governments in Wisconsin, with a maximum grant amount of $4.25 million. Goals of the CPF-FFP projects are:

Supporting recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by enhancing public infrastructure to ensure access to remote work, education and healthcare.

Facilitating investments in capital assets to tackle inequalities in access to essential services.

Providing modern infrastructure needed to access vital services, including high-quality and affordable broadband internet.

Regions receiving the full grants are:

Alma: Building a new public library and community facility, including three computer labs, three telemedicine rooms and a community area.

Dodgeville: Expanding the public library to include a children’s programming room, a business center and four classrooms with 11 laptops.

Fall Creek: Building a new public library to include six Wi-Fi workspaces, four classrooms and two computer labs with 20 laptops.

Fennimore: Expanding the public library with three telemedicine rooms, a conference room and a multipurpose space.

Fremont: Constructing of a tri-county public library and community center with three telemedicine rooms, a senior center and a computer lab with 10 desktops.

Madison: Constructing a new public library and Imagination Center at Reindahl Park featuring meeting rooms and classrooms, providing free high-speed internet, computer access and a tech hub with 10 workstations and 15 laptops.

New Glarus: Constructing a new public library with a children’s programming area, a study room and a classroom with six desktops, with plans for high-speed internet and better technology access.

Phelps: Constructing a new public library and community center, including a classroom and a computer lab with 20 laptops, improving high-speed internet and connectivity.

Plum Lake: Constructing a new community center featuring three multipurpose rooms, a classroom and a computer lab equipped with 20 desktop computers.

Shawano: Expanding a multipurpose recreation center to include a computer lab, a classroom, and two telemedicine rooms. The project aims to improve digital access by providing public electronic devices.

Sokaogon Chippewa – Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa: Construction of a new multipurpose community center, including four telemedicine rooms, two classrooms and nine computer labs equipped with 80 desktop computers.

St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin: Expanding a public library and community center, including an elder center, a language and music preservation studio and six classrooms.

Wautoma: Constructing a new YMCA for Waushara County, as part of a community center featuring wellness assistance, a community lounge and five classrooms with 25 laptops.

A full list of grants is available here.

Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash