Definition of an economic development program
Under current law, there is no uniform definition of an economic development
program. This bill defines "economic development program" as a program or activity
having the primary purpose of encouraging the establishment and growth of
business in the state, including the creation and retention of jobs, and that satisfies
all of the following:
1. The program receives funding from the state or federal government that is
allocated through an appropriation under state law.
2. The program provides financial assistance, tax benefits, or direct services to
specific industries, businesses, local governments, or organizations.
Cleanup and consolidation
The bill eliminates the following unfunded or inactive economic development
programs administered by the Department of Commerce (Commerce): minority
nonprofit corporation grants; minority business incubator grants; the industrial
building construction loan fund; community-based economic development revolving
loan fund grants; low-income rural municipality economic development loans; small
business innovative research program grants; and the following technology-based
economic development programs: the seed-capital fund, the information exchange
clearinghouse, and the manufacturing modernization program.
The bill eliminates the sustainable agriculture grant program administered by
the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
The bill eliminates the beginning farmer program administered by the
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA).
This bill consolidates the following grant and loan programs, administered by
Commerce, into one minority business grant and loan program: minority business
early planning grants; minority business development grants and loans; minority
business development finance and education training grants; and minority business
revolving fund grants and loans.
The bill also consolidates the gaming economic development grant and loan
program and the gaming economic diversification grant and loan program into one
gaming economic development grant and loan program.
Current law authorizes Commerce to award early planning project grants to
certain eligible recipients. An "early planning project" is defined under current law
as "the preliminary stages of considering and planning the start-up or expansion of
a business that will be a minority business." Under current law, eligible recipients
include individuals who are minority group members and residents of this state. The
bill does not change the definition of "early planning project" or "eligible recipient."
The bill transfers to the Minority Business Development Board the authority to
award grants and permits the board to award early planning project loans as well
as grants.
Changes to reporting requirements
Under current law, Commerce must do all of the following:
1. Submit a biennial report to the legislature on the performance and
operations of Commerce in the preceding biennium.
2. Periodically prepare an inventory of existing entrepreneurial assistance
programs in Wisconsin.
3. Prepare a report documenting the results of an annual survey of Wisconsin
businesses concerning the formation of businesses and obstacles to the formation of
businesses in Wisconsin.
4. Prepare employment impact estimates related to industrial development
revenue bonding.
5. Submit a report to the State of Wisconsin Investment Board describing the
types of investments in businesses in Wisconsin that will have the greatest likelihood
of enhancing economic development in Wisconsin.
6. Submit a report to both the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the
federal Environmental Protection Agency concerning the compliance of the state
small business stationary source technical and environmental compliance
assistance program with certain federal laws.
In addition, under current law, Commerce must submit reports to the
legislature incorporating the following information concerning economic
development programs administered by Commerce: job gains due to funds provided
to Forward Wisconsin, Inc.; the effects of the State Main Street Program on business
revitalization in commercial areas having historic significance; the effectiveness of
the Brownfields Grant Program; the operation and effectiveness of the Business
Employees' Skills Training Grant Program; the total amount of tax credits claimed
under the Early State Seed Investment Credit and Angel Investment Credit
programs; a description of the activities of the Business Development Assistance
Center; a description of Commerce's activities and the results of Commerce's
activities coordinating entrepreneurial assistance programs and intermediary
assistance programs offered by state agencies; Commerce's technology-based
economic development activities; and the disposition and repayment of moneys
distributed under the seed capital fund.
The economic development reporting requirements under current law are not
uniform: some reports are required annually, others biennially or periodically; some
reports are due in January, others in March, September, October, and December.
The bill eliminates all but the following separate reports required of Commerce:
1. A biennial report to the legislature on the performance and operations of
Commerce in the preceding biennium.
2. A report to the State of Wisconsin Investment Board identifying
recommended investments to enhance economic development in the state.
3. A report on the effects of the State Main Street Program.
4. A report regarding the business development promotion activities conducted
by Forward Wisconsin, Inc.
The bill requires Commerce to annually submit a comprehensive report
assessing economic development programs administered by Commerce to the Joint
Legislative Audit Committee and to the appropriate standing committees of the
assembly and the senate. The bill also restores a requirement, repealed under
2007
Wisconsin Act 20 (the budget act), that Commerce evaluate certified capital
investments made under Subchapter II of Chapter 560, 2005 statutes.
In addition, under the bill, each of the following entities must submit to the
legislature a comprehensive annual report detailing its economic development
activities within the preceding fiscal year: 1) the University of Wisconsin System;
2) DATCP; 3) DNR; 4) WHEDA; 5) the Department of Tourism; 6) the Technical
College System; and 7) the Department of Transportation. The comprehensive
reports of all eight entities are due to the legislature by October 1 of each year.
The state entity annual reports must include information about the number of
grants and loans made by each entity in each year; the amount of each grant and
loan; the name of the recipient of each grant and loan; and the sum total of all grants
and loans received by each recipient. The seven enumerated state entities must
collaborate with Commerce to make the reported information available to the public
on the Internet.
Programmatic goals and benchmarks
The bill also requires Commerce and the seven enumerated state entities to
establish specific goals for each of the economic development programs administered
by each entity; quantifiable benchmarks for the program goals; and methods for
evaluating the projected or anticipated results of the program. Commerce and the
other seven entities must independently verify the accuracy of information reported
by the recipient of an economic development grant or loan.
Commerce and the seven enumerated state entities must promulgate the
following rules governing economic development grants and loans:
1. A requirement that the recipient of an economic development grant or loan
of at least $100,000 submit to the administering state entity a verified statement
signed by both an independent accountant licensed or certified by the Accounting
Examining Board in the Department of Regulation and Licensing and the director
or principal officer of the recipient. The rule must also require the recipient of such
a grant or loan to make available for inspection the documents supporting the
verified statement.
2. Policies and procedures for the administering state entity to recoup economic
development grant or loan payments, withhold future grant or loan payments, and
impose a fine or penalty upon the recipient of an economic development grant or loan
or tax benefits which submits false or misleading information to the administering
state entity has failed to comply with the requirements of a contract entered into with
the administering state entity and which has failed to provide a satisfactory
explanation to the administering state entity for the failure to comply.
Audit by the Legislative Audit Bureau
The bill requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to prepare a financial and
program evaluation audit of state economic development programs administered by
the eight state entities no later than July 1, 2012.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB434, s. 1
1Section
1. 13.94 (1) (mm) of the statutes is created to read:
SB434,6,52
13.94
(1) (mm) No later than July 1, 2012, prepare a financial and performance
3evaluation audit of the economic development programs administered by the
4department of commerce, the University of Wisconsin System, the department of
5agriculture, trade and consumer protection, the department of natural resources, the
1Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, the department of
2tourism, the technical college system, and the department of transportation. In this
3paragraph, economic development program has the meaning given in s. 560.001
4(1m). The legislative audit bureau shall file a copy of the report of the audit under
5this paragraph with the distributees specified in par. (b).
SB434, s. 2
6Section
2. 20.002 (11) (d) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB434,6,87
20.002
(11) (d) 3. The industrial building construction loan fund under s.
8560.10
, 2005 stats.
SB434, s. 3
9Section
3. 20.115 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB434,6,1210
20.115
(4) (c)
Agricultural investment aids. Biennially, the amounts in the
11schedule for agricultural research and development grants under s. 93.46 (2) and (3)
12and sustainable agriculture grants under s. 93.47.
SB434, s. 4
13Section
4. 20.115 (4) (r) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB434,6,1714
20.115
(4) (r)
Agricultural investment aids, agrichemical management fund. 15Biennially, from the agrichemical management fund, the amounts in the schedule
16for agricultural research and development grants under s. 93.46 (2) and (3)
and
17sustainable agriculture grants under s. 93.47.
SB434, s. 5
18Section
5. 20.143 (1) (fm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB434,6,2219
20.143
(1) (fm)
Minority business projects; grants and loans. Biennially, the
20amounts in the schedule for grants
and loans under
ss. 560.038, 560.039, s. 560.82
21and 560.837, grants and loans under s. 560.83, the grant under
1993 Wisconsin Act
22110, section
3, and the loans under
1997 Wisconsin Act 9, section
3.
SB434,7,13
120.143
(1) (ie)
Wisconsin development fund, repayments. All moneys received
2in repayment of grants or loans under s. 560.085 (4) (b), 1985 stats.,
s. 560.10, 2005
3stats., s. 560.147, 2005 stats., s. 560.16, 1995 stats., s. 560.165, 1993 stats., s. 560.275
4(2),
2005 stats., s. 560.62, 2005 stats., s. 560.63, 2005 stats., and s. 560.66, 2005 stats.,
5subch. V of ch. 560,
and 1989 Wisconsin Act 336, section
3015 (1m),
1989 Wisconsin
6Act 336, section
3015 (2m),
1989 Wisconsin Act 336, section
3015 (3gx),
1997
7Wisconsin Act 27, section
9110 (7f),
1997 Wisconsin Act 310, section
2 (2d),
1999
8Wisconsin Act 9, section
9110 (4), and
2007 Wisconsin Act 20, section
9108 (5x), to
9be used for grants and loans under s. 560.275 (2) and subch. V of ch. 560, for
10assistance under s. 560.06 (2), for the loan under
1999 Wisconsin Act 9, section
9110 11(4), for the grant under
2001 Wisconsin Act 16, section
9110 (7g), for the grants under
122003 Wisconsin Act 33, section
9109 (1d) and (2q), and for reimbursements under s.
13560.167.
SB434, s. 7
14Section
7. 20.143 (1) (ig) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB434,7,1815
20.143
(1) (ig)
Gaming economic development and diversification; repayments. 16Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for grants and loans under
ss. 560.137 (2)
17and s. 560.138. All moneys received in repayment of loans under ss. 560.137 (2)
, 2005
18stats., and 560.138 shall be credited to this appropriation account.
SB434, s. 8
19Section
8. 20.143 (1) (im) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB434,7,2420
20.143
(1) (im)
Minority business projects; repayments. All moneys received in
21repayment of grants or loans under s.
560.83 560.82 (1m) (b) and (c) and loans under
221997 Wisconsin Act 9, section
3, to be used for grants and loans under
ss. s. 560.82
,
23560.83, and 560.837, the grant under
2001 Wisconsin Act 16, section
9110 (7g), and
24the loans under
1997 Wisconsin Act 9, section
3.
SB434, s. 9
25Section
9. 20.143 (1) (kg) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB434,8,12
120.143
(1) (kg)
American Indian economic liaison and gaming grants specialist
2and program marketing. The amounts in the schedule for the American Indian
3economic liaison program under s. 560.87, other than for grants under s. 560.87 (6),
4for the salary and fringe benefits of, and related supplies and services for, the gaming
5grants specialist for the
programs program under
ss. 560.137 and s. 560.138, and for
6marketing the
programs program under
ss. 560.137 and s. 560.138. From this
7appropriation, the department may expend in each fiscal year no more than $100,000
8for marketing the
programs program under
ss. 560.137 and s. 560.138. All moneys
9transferred from the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (8) (hm) 6g. shall be
10credited to this appropriation account. Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (a), the
11unencumbered balance on June 30 of each year shall revert to the appropriation
12account under s. 20.505 (8) (hm).
SB434, s. 10
13Section
10. 20.143 (1) (kj) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB434,8,2314
20.143
(1) (kj)
Gaming economic development and diversification; grants and
15loans. Biennially, the amounts in the schedule for grants and loans under
ss. 560.137
16and s. 560.138, for the grants under s. 560.139 (1) (a)
and, (2),
and (3), and for the
17grants under
2001 Wisconsin Act 16, section
9110 (2k), (11pk), and (11zx). Of the
18amounts in the schedule, $500,000 shall be allocated in each fiscal year for the grants
19under s.
560.137 (3m) 560.139 (3). All moneys transferred from the appropriation
20account under s. 20.505 (8) (hm) 6j. shall be credited to this appropriation account.
21Notwithstanding s. 20.001 (3) (b), the unencumbered balance on June 30 of each
22odd-numbered year shall revert to the appropriation account under s. 20.505 (8)
23(hm).
SB434, s. 11
24Section
11. 20.143 (1) (x) of the statutes is repealed.
SB434, s. 12
25Section
12. 23.167 of the statutes is created to read:
SB434,9,5
123.167 Goals and accountability measures for economic development
2programs. (1) In this section, "economic development program" means a program
3or activity having the primary purpose of encouraging the establishment and growth
4of business in this state, including the creation and retention of jobs, and that
5satisfies all of the following:
SB434,9,76
(a) The program receives funding from the state or federal government that is
7allocated through an appropriation under ch. 20.
SB434,9,98
(b) The program provides financial assistance, tax benefits, or direct services
9to specific industries, businesses, local governments, or organizations.
SB434,9,12
10(2) The department, in consultation with the department of commerce, shall
11do all of the following for each economic development program administered by the
12department:
SB434,9,1413
(a) Establish clear and measurable goals for the program that are tied to
14statutory policy objectives.
SB434,9,1615
(b) Establish at least one quantifiable benchmark for each program goal
16described in par. (a).
SB434,9,2017
(c) Require that each recipient of a grant or loan under the program submit a
18report to the department. Each contract with a recipient of a grant or loan under the
19program shall specify the frequency and format of the report to be submitted to the
20department and the performance measures to be included in the report.
SB434,9,2321
(d) Establish a method for evaluating the projected results of the program with
22actual outcomes as determined by evaluating the information described in pars. (a)
23and (b).
SB434,9,2524
(e) Annually and independently verify, from a sample of grants and loans, the
25accuracy of the information required to be reported under par. (c).
SB434,10,8
1(f) Establish by rule a requirement that the recipient of a grant or loan under
2the program of at least $100,000 submit to the department a verified statement
3signed by both an independent certified public accountant licensed or certified under
4ch. 442 and the director or principal officer of the recipient to attest to the accuracy
5of the verified statement, and make available for inspection the documents
6supporting the verified statement. The department shall include the requirement
7established by rule under this paragraph in the contract entered into by a grant or
8loan recipient.
SB434,10,139
(g) Establish by rule policies and procedures permitting the department to do
10all of the following if a recipient of a grant or loan or tax benefits under the program
11submits false or misleading information to the department or fails to comply with the
12terms of a contract entered into with the department under the program and fails to
13provide to the satisfaction of the department an explanation for the noncompliance:
SB434,10,1414
1. Recoup payments made to the recipient.
SB434,10,1515
2. Withhold payments to be made to the recipient.
SB434,10,1616
3. Impose a fine or penalty on the recipient.
SB434, s. 13
17Section
13. 23.169 of the statutes is created to read:
SB434,10,25
1823.169 Economic development assistance reporting. Annually, no later
19than October 1, the department shall submit to the joint legislative audit committee
20and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature under s. 13.172 (3) a
21comprehensive report assessing economic development programs, as defined in s.
2223.167 (1), administered by the department. The report shall include all of the
23information required under s. 560.01 (2) (am). The department shall collaborate
24with the department of commerce to make readily accessible to the public on an
25Internet-based system the information required under this section.
SB434, s. 14
1Section
14. 25.17 (1) (hm) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB434,11,32
25.17
(1) (hm) Industrial building construction loan fund (s. 560.10
, 2005
3stats.);
SB434, s. 15
4Section
15. 36.09 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
SB434,11,75
36.09
(1) (am) The board, in consultation with the department of commerce,
6shall do all of the following for each economic development program, as defined in
7s. 36.11 (29r) (a), administered by the board:
SB434,11,98
1. Establish clear and measurable goals for the program that are tied to
9statutory policy objectives.
SB434,11,1110
2. Establish at least one quantifiable benchmark for each program goal
11described in subd. 1.
SB434,11,1512
3. Require that each recipient of a grant or loan under the program submit a
13report to the board. Each contract with a recipient of a grant or loan under the
14program shall specify the frequency and format of the report to be submitted to the
15board and the performance measures to be included in the report.
SB434,11,1816
4. Establish a method for evaluating the projected results of the program with
17actual outcomes as determined by evaluating the information described in subds. 1.
18and 2.
SB434,11,2019
5. Annually and independently verify, from a sample of grants and loans, the
20accuracy of the information required to be reported under subd. 3.
SB434,12,221
6. Establish by rule a requirement that the recipient of a grant or loan under
22the program of at least $100,000 submit to the board a verified statement signed by
23both an independent certified public accountant licensed or certified under ch. 442
24and the director or principal officer of the recipient to attest to the accuracy of the
25verified statement, and make available for inspection the documents supporting the
1verified statement. The board shall include the requirement established by rule
2under this subdivision in the contract entered into by a grant or loan recipient.
SB434,12,73
7. Establish by rule policies and procedures permitting the board to do all of
4the following if a recipient of a grant or loan or tax benefits under the program
5submits false or misleading information to the board or fails to comply with the terms
6of a contract entered into with the board under the program and fails to provide to
7the satisfaction of the board an explanation for the noncompliance:
SB434,12,88
a. Recoup payments made to the recipient.