2025 - 2026 LEGISLATURE
LRB-5328/1
MDE:cdc
January 2, 2026 - Introduced by Senators Roys, Drake, Habush Sinykin, Hesselbein, Larson, Ratcliff, Spreitzer and Wirch, cosponsored by Representatives Joers, Vining, Anderson, Arney, Billings, Brown, DeSmidt, Doyle, Fitzgerald, Hong, Hysell, Kirsch, McCarville, Miresse, Palmeri, Prado, Rivera-Wagner, Roe, Sinicki, Snodgrass, Stroud, Stubbs, Subeck, Taylor, Tenorio, Udell and Mayadev. Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development.
SB806,1,2
1An Act to create 20.192 (1) (br) and 238.129 of the statutes; relating to: main
2street bounceback grants and making an appropriation. Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill appropriates $25,000,000 in general purpose revenue in each year of the 2025-27 fiscal biennium for the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to award grants to provide assistance to businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant commercial space. WEDC already administered such a program, which was nonstatutory, with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. Under the bill, WEDC must establish eligibility requirements and other policies and procedures for grants awarded under the bill that are substantially similar to the eligibility requirements and policies and procedures in effect on June 30, 2023, for the Wisconsin Tomorrow Main Street Bounceback Grant program administered by WEDC. Additionally, WEDC may not award a grant under the bill to a nonprofit organization.
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:
SB806,1
1Section 1. 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, 2insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: SB806,28Section 2. 20.192 (1) (br) of the statutes is created to read: SB806,2,10920.192 (1) (br) Main street bounceback grants. The amounts in the schedule 10for grants awarded under s. 238.129. SB806,311Section 3. 238.129 of the statutes is created to read: SB806,2,1512238.129 Main street bounceback grants. (1) Grants. From the 13appropriation under s. 20.192 (1) (br), the corporation may award grants to provide 14assistance to businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant 15commercial space. SB806,2,2016(2) Eligibility. (a) Subject to par. (b), the corporation shall establish 17eligibility requirements and other policies and procedures for the grants awarded 18under sub. (1) that are substantially similar to the eligibility requirements and 19policies and procedures in effect on June 30, 2023, for the Wisconsin Tomorrow 20Main Street Bounceback Grant program administered by the corporation. SB806,2,2221(b) The corporation may not award a grant under this section to a nonprofit 22organization.
