27,4354
Section 4354
. 560.14 (2) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
560.14 (2) (a) 1. Enable a community-based organization or a political subdivision receiving a grant to develop a plan for diversifying its the local or regional economy, attracting new businesses and jobs and promoting economic development.
27,4355
Section 4355
. 560.14 (2) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 560.14 (2) (c) and amended to read:
560.14 (2) (c) An individual grant under this subsection may not exceed whichever of the following applies: $30,000.
27,4356
Section 4356
. 560.14 (2) (c) 1. of the statutes is repealed.
27,4357
Section 4357
. 560.14 (2) (c) 2. of the statutes is repealed.
27,4357m
Section 4357m. 560.14 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
560.14 (3m) The department may make a grant from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (fg) to a community-based organization for the purpose of creating a revolving loan fund for making loans to small businesses. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of the program under this subsection.
27,4357r
Section 4357r. 560.14 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:
560.14 (3r) (a) The department may make a grant from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (fg) to a private, nonprofit foundation, including the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship to Handicapped and Disadvantaged Youth, or other private, nonprofit organizations if all of the following apply:
1. The foundation or organization teaches business skills to economically disadvantaged or socially at-risk children.
2. The grant proceeds will be used for costs associated with teaching the skills and developing the knowledge necessary to start and maintain a business enterprise.
(b) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of the program under this subsection.
27,4358
Section 4358
. 560.14 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
560.14 (4m) (a) Subject to par. (b), the department may make a grant under this subsection from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (fg) to a community-based organization or private nonprofit organization for a venture capital development conference if all of the following apply:
1. The conference will assist entrepreneurs or businesses in the state in obtaining capital for the start-up or development of a business.
2. The conference will likely stimulate investment, promote economic development or create or retain jobs in the state.
3. The grant applicant submits a plan that describes the proposed activity, how the activity satisfies the criteria under this paragraph, how the grant will be administered, how the grant proceeds will be used to support the activity and how the activity will be coordinated with other venture capital development conferences or programs, including any conferences or programs of the department.
4. The secretary approves the plan under subd. 3.
5. The grant applicant funds at least 50% of the total cost of the conference by providing cash or in-kind contributions.
(b) The department may not award more than $75,000 in grants under this subsection in any fiscal year.
27,4359
Section 4359
. 560.14 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.14 (5) (b) Promulgate
Subject to par. (d), promulgate rules to develop criteria for evaluating applications for grants under this section.
27,4359m
Section 4359m. 560.14 (5) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.14 (5) (c) Consistent with subs. (2), (3) and (4) to (4m), award grants under this section on a competitive basis, using the criteria developed under par. (b).
27,4360
Section 4360
. 560.14 (5) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
560.14 (5) (d) Give priority for grants under this section for projects related to brownfields redevelopment.
27,4363
Section 4363
. 560.16 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (title) Employe ownership assistance loans grants.
27,4364
Section 4364
. 560.16 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (1) (b) “Business" means an employe-owned business or an existing business which is the subject of an application for a loan grant under this section.
27,4365
Section 4365
. 560.16 (2) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (2) (title) Employe ownership assistance loans grants.
27,4366
Section 4366
. 560.16 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (2) (a) From the appropriations under s. 20.143 (1) (c) and (ie), the department may make loans grants to existing business groups for a feasibility study to investigate the reorganization or new incorporation of an existing business as an employe-owned business and for professional services to implement the study.
27,4367
Section 4367
. 560.16 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (2) (b) The department may not make a
loan grant under this section unless the board has approved the loan grant under this section or requested the department to make the grant under s. 560.61 (3).
27,4368
Section 4368
. 560.16 (2) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (2) (c) (intro.) The board may not approve a loan grant under this section unless the board has considered all of the following:
27,4369
Section 4369
. 560.16 (2) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (2) (d) The board may approve a loan grant regardless of the number of employes laid off or to be laid off by the business or, if the business is closed, the length of time that it has been closed.
27,4370
Section 4370
. 560.16 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (3) (title) Loan Grant applications. (intro.) To apply for a loan grant under this section, a group shall submit an application to the department which includes:
27,4371
Section 4371
. 560.16 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (3) (e) A description of the group's financial assets available to match the loan grant and a statement indicating the group's willingness to match the loan grant.
27,4372
Section 4372
. 560.16 (3) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (3) (f) A written commitment from a person with the recognized expertise and experience necessary to conduct the feasibility study or provide the professional services to be financed by the loan grant.
27,4373
Section 4373
. 560.16 (4) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (4) (title) Loan Grant limits; contract approval.
27,4374
Section 4374
. 560.16 (4) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (4) (a) A loan grant to a group under this section may not exceed $25,000 unless the joint committee on finance, under s. 13.101 (5m), approves a specified amount exceeding $25,000 $15,000.
27,4375
Section 4375
. 560.16 (4) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (4) (b) As a condition of approval of a
loan grant to a group under this section, the board shall require that the group provide matching funds for at least 25% of the cost of the project, except that the board may waive application of that requirement if the board determines that the group is subject to extreme financial hardship.
27,4376
Section 4376
. 560.16 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (4) (c) Any contract for any feasibility study or professional services financed by a loan grant under sub. (2) (a) shall be subject to the approval of the board department. The board department may not approve such a contract unless it determines that the contractor has the expertise required to provide the necessary study or services and that the contractor's costs are consistent with existing market rates.
27,4377
Section 4377
. 560.16 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
27,4378
Section 4378
. 560.16 (6) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (6) (a) (intro.) Any feasibility study of an existing business financed by a loan grant under sub. (2) (a) shall may include:
27,4379
Section 4379
. 560.16 (6) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.16 (6) (b) The results of a feasibility study of an existing business financed by a loan grant under sub. (2) (a) shall be solely for the use of the group which received the loan grant, except that if the group's bid to purchase the business has been withdrawn, rejected or terminated, the group shall submit a copy of the study and the results of any professional services financed by the loan
grant to the board and the board may provide a copy of such results to any person seeking to purchase the existing business.
27,4380
Section 4380
. 560.165 of the statutes is created to read:
560.165 Division of international and export development; fees. The division of international and export development may charge fees for services it provides to cover the costs incurred by the division in providing the services. The division shall deposit all fees collected under this section in the appropriation account under s. 20.143 (1) (g).
27,4381
Section 4381
. 560.17 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
560.17 (1) (am) “Brownfields" has the meaning given in s. 560.60 (1v).
27,4382
Section 4382
. 560.17 (1) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:
560.17 (1) (bm) “Job" has the meaning given in s. 560.60 (10).
27,4383
Section 4383
. 560.17 (1) (d) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
560.17 (1) (d) 2. A city, town or village with a population of 4,000 6,000 or less.
27,4383n
Section 4383n. 560.17 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.17 (2) (b) The department shall make the grant or loan, except for a grant under sub. (5c), from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (er) or (ir). The department shall make a grant under sub. (5c) from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (g).
27,4384
Section 4384
. 560.17 (3) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.17 (3) (intro.) The Subject to sub. (4m), the board may award a grant or loan under this subsection to a business if all of the following apply:
27,4385
Section 4385
. 560.17 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.17 (3) (a) The amount of the grant or loan does not exceed $30,000 $15,000.
27,4386
Section 4386
. 560.17 (3) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.17 (3) (b) The business, together with any affiliate, subsidiary or parent entity, has fewer than 25
50 employes.
27,4387
Section 4387
. 560.17 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.17 (3) (e) The proceeds of the grant or loan will be used by the business as provided in sub. (5).
27,4387m
Section 4387m. 560.17 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.17 (4) (intro.) Before awarding a grant
or loan under sub. (3), the board shall consider all of the following:
27,4388
Section 4388
. 560.17 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.17 (4) (c) The number of new jobs created by the business in relation to the amount of the grant or loan.
27,4389
Section 4389
. 560.17 (4) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:
560.17 (4) (cm) In relation to the amount of the grant, the number of existing jobs that will be retained by the business if the grant is awarded and that likely would not be retained if the grant is not awarded.
27,4390
Section 4390
. 560.17 (4) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
560.17 (4) (f) Whether the business would be able to start or expand its operations without a grant or loan.
27,4391
Section 4391
. 560.17 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:
560.17 (4m) Of the total amount awarded in grants in a fiscal biennium under sub. (3), the board shall award not less than 25% and not more than 50% for purposes related to an agricultural business. The board shall give priority under this subsection for grants that will be used for purposes related to a dairy farm, as defined in s. 97.22 (1) (a).
27,4392
Section 4392
. 560.17 (5) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
