LRB-0930/P2
MPG:cdc
2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Quinn, BB0327 - Main Street Program Statutory Changes
For 2021-2023 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
commerce and economic development
Economic development
Changes to the state main street program
Under current law, WEDC is required to establish and administer a state main street program to coordinate state and local participation in programs offered by the national main street center to assist municipalities in planning, managing, and implementing programs for the revitalization of commercial areas having historical significance. Under the current state main street program, WEDC is required to do all of the following:
1. Contract with the national main street center for services related to revitalizing commercial areas having historical significance.
2. Develop a plan describing the objectives of the state main street program and the methods by which WEDC will carry out certain responsibilities specified by law.
3. Coordinate with other state and local public and private entities in relation to the state main street program.
4. Annually select, upon application, up to five municipalities to participate in the state main street program. The program for each municipality concludes after five years. The corporation is required to select program participants representing various geographical regions and populations.
5. Develop objective criteria for use in selecting participants in the state main street program.
6. Provide training, technical assistance, and information on the revitalization of commercial areas having historical significance to municipalities not participating in the state main street program.
7. Annually expend at least $250,000 annually on the state main street program.
This bill substantially replaces WEDC's duties under the state main street program and instead requires WEDC, in accordance with guidelines of the national main street center, to assist municipalities in planning, managing
, and implementing programs for the revitalization of downtown areas and historic commercial districts, including by doing all of the following:
1. Assisting communities in restoring and retaining the historic character of their downtown areas and historic commercial districts.
2. Promoting business investment, assisting in retaining existing small businesses, and promoting new businesses in downtown areas and historic commercial districts.
3. Assisting in strengthening the local tax base.
4. Assisting in the creation of employment opportunities in downtown areas and historic commercial districts.
5. Enhancing the economic viability of downtown areas and historic commercial districts.
The bill also requires WEDC to annually select, upon application, up to five new municipalities to participate in the state main street program, but a municipality's participation in the program is not limited to five years. The bill continues to require the corporation to provide related training, technical assistance, and information to municipalities not participating in the state main street program.
Finally, under the bill, WEDC is no longer required to expend up to $250,000 annually on the state main street program.
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:
Section
1. 238.127 (1) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
****Note: I left the other definitions in place because the terms are still used in the section, as amended. MPG
Section
2. 238.127 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
238.127 (2) (intro.) The corporation shall establish and administer a state main street program to coordinate state and local participation in programs offered by in accordance with guidelines of the national main street center, created by the national trust for historic preservation,. The purpose of the program is to assist municipalities in planning, managing, and implementing programs for the revitalization of business areas. The corporation shall do downtown areas and historic commercial districts, including by doing all of the following:
Section
3. 238.127 (2) (a) of the statutes is repealed.
Section
4. 238.127 (2) (ac) of the statutes is created to read:
238.127 (2) (ac) Assisting communities in restoring and retaining the historic character of their downtown areas and historic commercial districts.
Section
5. 238.127 (2) (ag) of the statutes is created to read:
238.127 (2) (ag) Promoting business investment, assisting in retaining existing small businesses, and promoting new businesses in downtown areas and historic commercial districts.
Section
6. 238.127 (2) (an) of the statutes is created to read:
238.127 (2) (an) Assisting in strengthening the local tax base.
Section
7. 238.127 (2) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
238.127 (2) (ar) Assisting in the creation of employment opportunities in downtown areas and historic commercial districts.
Section
8. 238.127 (2) (aw) of the statutes is created to read:
238.127 (2) (aw) Enhancing the economic viability of downtown areas and historic commercial districts.
Section
9. 238.127 (2) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
Section
10. 238.127 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
Section
11. 238.127 (2) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 238.127 (3) and amended to read:
238.127 (3) Annually, the corporation shall select, upon application, up to 5 municipalities to participate in the state main street program. The program for each municipality shall conclude after 3 years, except that the program for each municipality selected after July 29, 1995, shall conclude after 5 years. The corporation shall select program participants representing various geographical regions and populations. A municipality may apply to participate, and the corporation may select a municipality for participation, more than one time. In selecting a municipality, however, the corporation may give priority to those municipalities that have not previously participated that are not participating in the program at the time of application.
Section
12. 238.127 (2) (f) of the statutes is repealed.
Section
13. 238.127 (2) (h) of the statutes is renumbered 238.127 (4) and amended to read:
238.127 (4) Provide The corporation shall provide training, technical assistance and information on the revitalization of business areas downtown areas and historic commercial districts to municipalities which that do not participate in the state main street program. The corporation may charge reasonable fees for the services and information provided under this paragraph.
Section
14. 238.127 (2) (j) of the statutes is repealed.
(End)
