1999 Wisconsin Act 9

(b) The department may forgive all or any part of a loan made under this section.

9,2953 Section 2953. 560.138 of the statutes is created to read:

560.138 Gaming economic diversification grants and loans. (1) In this

section:

(a) "Native American business" means a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture or corporation that is at least 51% owned, controlled and actively managed by a member or members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state.

(b) "Qualified business" means an existing business, including a Native American business, that is located in or expanding into this state.

(2) (a) Subject to subs. (3) and (4), from the appropriations under s. 20.143 (1) (id) and (km), the department may make a grant or loan to a qualified business for a project for the purpose of diversifying the economy of a community.

(b) In determining whether to award a grant or loan under this section, the department shall consider all of the following:

1. A project's potential to retain or increase the number of jobs.

2. A project's potential to provide for significant capital investment.

3. A project's contribution to the economy of the community.

(3) As a condition of approval of a grant or loan under this section, the department shall require that a qualified business provide matching funds for at least 25% of the cost of a project.

(4) The department may not award a grant or loan under this section to a qualified business for any purpose that is related to tourism unless the department of tourism concurs in the award.

(5) The department shall deposit into the appropriation account under s. 20.143 (1) (id) all moneys received in repayment of loans made under this section.

9,2953g Section 2953g. 560.139 of the statutes is created to read:

560.139 Economic development grants. (1) Remediation and economic redevelopment. (a) Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (kj), the department shall make grants annually to the city of Milwaukee to fund a program to be administered by the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation. Under the program, the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation shall provide grants to persons for remediation and economic redevelopment projects in the Menomonee valley. A person may not receive a grant unless the person provides matching funds for at least 50% of the cost of the project.

(b) The department may not expend more than $900,000 in grants to the city of Milwaukee under this subsection annually.

(2) Community-based venture fund. (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (kj), the department shall make grants to the Northwest Regional Planning Commission to match federal or private funds for the purpose of establishing a community-based venture fund. Subject to par. (b), the department shall provide grants each year in an amount that equals 50% of the total amount that the Northwest Regional Planning Commission receives in the year from federal or private sources for the community-based venture fund.

(b) The department may not expend more than $150,000 in grants under this subsection annually.

9,2953h Section 2953h. 560.139 (1) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

560.139 (1) (a) Subject to par. (b), from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (kj) or (km) or from both appropriations, the department shall make grants annually to the city of Milwaukee to fund a program to be administered by the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation. Under the program, the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation shall provide grants to persons for remediation and economic redevelopment projects in the Menomonee valley. A person may not receive a grant unless the person provides matching funds for at least 50% of the cost of the project.

9,2953i Section 2953i. 560.139 (2) (a) of the statutes, as created by 1999 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), is amended to read:

560.139 (2) (a) From the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (kj) or (km) or from both appropriations, the department shall make grants to the Northwest Regional Planning Commission to match federal or private funds for the purpose of establishing a community-based venture fund. Subject to par. (b), the department shall provide grants each year in an amount that equals 50% of the total amount that the Northwest Regional Planning Commission receives in the year from federal or private sources for the community-based venture fund.

9,2954 Section 2954. 560.14 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 560.14 (4), and 560.14 (4) (intro.), (f) and (g), as renumbered, are amended to read:

560.14 (4) (intro.) Subject to par. (b), the The department may make a grant under this subsection from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (fg) to a community-based organization for regional economic development activity if all of the following apply:

(f) The applicants submit a plan that describes the economic development activity, how the economic development activity satisfies the criteria under this paragraph subsection, how the grant will be administered and how the grant proceeds will be used to support the economic development activity; and the secretary approves the plan.

(g) The applicants provide documentation of the contributions required under subd. 5 par. (e).

9,2955 Section 2955. 560.14 (4) (b) of the statutes is repealed.

9,2955m Section 2955m. 560.17 (5r) of the statutes is created to read:

560.17 (5r) (a) Under this subsection, the board may award to a business a loan that does not exceed $50,000 if all of the following apply:

1. The business, together with any affiliate, subsidiary or parent entity, has fewer than 50 employes.

2. The business is or will be located in a rural municipality.

3. The rural municipality in which the business is or will be located satisfies either of the following criteria:

a. The rural municipality is located in a county that has a median household income that is lower than the state median household income.

b. If the rural municipality is located in a county that has a median household income that is higher than the state median household income, the rural municipality has a median household income that is lower than the county median household income.

4. The business is starting or expanding its operations.

5. The operations of the business do not involve metallic mining activities.

6. The owner of the business attends a class that provides instruction in writing a business plan, making a business loan application and managing a start-up business.

(b) A business applying for a loan under this subsection must submit an application package that includes a business plan and such personal and business financial information as the board requires to enable the board to assess sufficiently the potential viability of the business. The department shall assist a business in preparing an application.

(c) A business that receives a loan under this subsection may use the loan proceeds for any of the following purposes:

1. The purchase or improvement of land.

2. The purchase of buildings, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment or inventory.

3. Job training costs.

4. Employe relocation costs.

5. Working capital.

(d) If a business that receives a loan under this subsection uses the loan proceeds for employe relocation costs under par. (c) 4., the department shall ensure all of the following:

1. That an employe of the business has the option of accepting or declining any relocation assistance that is available as a result of the loan.

2. That the compensation and benefits terms offered at the new location are at least as favorable as those offered by the business at its previous location.

9,2955p Section 2955p. 560.17 (6m) of the statutes is renumbered 560.17 (6m) (a) and amended to read:

560.17 (6m) (a) In Except as provided in par. (b), in order to receive a grant or loan under this section a person or business shall contribute cash, from a source other than the state, in an amount that equals at least 25% of the total cost of the project.

9,2955q Section 2955q. 560.17 (6m) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

560.17 (6m) (b) The board shall determine whether, and the extent to which, in order to receive a loan under sub. (5r), a business must contribute from a source other than the state a portion of the cost of the project, except that the board may not require a business to contribute more than 20% of the cost of the project. The contribution may be in cash or in kind. The board shall determine what services or materials may be used as in-kind contributions.

9,2955r Section 2955r. 560.17 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

560.17 (7) (a) Except as provided in par. (am), the department shall designate staff to evaluate applications for grants or loans and assist the board under this section. The board shall act on an application for a grant or loan at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the department determines that the application is complete, except that the board shall act on an application for a loan under sub. (5r) and advise the applicant of its decision within 45 days after the department determines that the application is complete.

9,2956 Section 2956. 560.175 of the statutes is created to read:

560.175 Urban area early planning grants. (1) In this section:

(a) "Early planning project" means the preliminary stages of considering and planning the expansion or start-up of a business that is or will be located in an urban area in this state.

(b) "Urban area" means any of the following:

1. A city, village or town that is located in a county with a population density of at least 150 persons per square mile.

2. A city, village or town with a population of more than 6,000.

(2) Subject to subs. (3) and (6), the department may make a grant from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (c) to a person to fund an early planning project.

(3) The department may not award a grant to a person under this section unless the person submits an application, in a form required by the department, that contains or describes all of the following:

(a) The location of the new or expanding business.

(b) The ownership structure of the new or expanding business.

(c) The product or service provided by the new or expanding business.

(d) The market for the product or service described in par. (c).

(e) Competition within the market described in par. (d).

(f) Any competitive advantages of the new or expanding business.

(g) The person's estimate of the gross revenue of the new or expanding business over a period specified by the department.

(h) The process for manufacturing the product, or providing the services, of the new or expanding business.

(i) An estimate of the number of jobs that will be created by the new or expanding business.

(j) The person's experience and training.

(k) The person's estimate of the profit that will be generated by the new or expanding business over a period specified by the department.

(L) The person's estimate of the capital required to complete the early planning project.

(m) Potential sources of financing for the early planning project.

(n) Any other information that the department requests.

(4) A person who receives a grant under this section may use the grant proceeds only for any of the following:

(a) To perform a business feasibility study.

(b) To prepare a detailed marketing plan.

(c) To prepare a detailed business plan.

(5) In order to receive a grant under this section a person shall contribute cash, from a source other than the state, in an amount that equals at least 25% of the total cost of the project.

(6) (a) In any fiscal biennium, the department may not award to any one person more than $15,000 in grants under this section.

(b) In any fiscal biennium, the department may not award more than $250,000 in grants under this section.

9,2957 Section 2957. 560.183 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

560.183 (3) (b) The agreement shall specify that the responsibility of the department to make the payments under the agreement is subject to the availability of funds in the appropriations under s. 20.143 (1) (f), (jc) and, (jm) and (kr).

9,2958 Section 2958. 560.183 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

560.183 (5) (a) The obligation of the department to make payments under an agreement entered into under sub. (3) (b) is subject to the availability of funds in the appropriations under s. 20.143 (1) (f), (jc) and, (jm) and (kr).

9,2959 Section 2959. 560.183 (5) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

560.183 (5) (b) (intro.) If the cost of repaying the loans of all eligible applicants, when added to the cost of loan repayments scheduled under existing agreements, exceeds the total amount in the appropriations under s. 20.143 (1) (f), (jc) and, (jm) and (kr), the department shall establish priorities among the eligible applicants based upon the following considerations: