560.135(2)
(2) Subject to
subs. (3) and
(4), the board may award a grant or loan for the purpose specified to any of the following entities located in an area affected by mining:
560.135(2)(a)
(a) A business, to finance costs associated with start-up, maintenance or expansion in an area affected by mining.
560.135(2)(b)
(b) A city, village, town or county, to develop an economic diversification plan.
560.135(2)(c)
(c) A city, village, town, county, community-based organization or local development corporation, to establish a local revolving loan fund to finance businesses that will create long-term employment opportunities.
560.135(2)(d)
(d) A community-based organization or local development corporation, to conduct a local economic development project that will create long-term employment opportunities and to provide assistance to businesses or entrepreneurs.
560.135(2)(e)
(e) A business, to obtain professional services related to the start-up, maintenance or expansion of the business, including assistance with feasibility studies or financial and marketing plans and managerial assistance after start-up or expansion.
560.135(3)
(3) The board may not award a grant or loan under
sub. (2) if the proceeds will be used to establish or expand a business that is solely dependent on mining activity.
560.135(5)
(5) In awarding grants and loans under
sub. (2), the board shall consider all of the following:
560.135(5)(b)
(b) Whether the project will be located in a targeted area, as determined by the board after considering the factors under
s. 560.605 (2m) (a) to
(h).
560.135(5)(c)
(c) The extent to which the business or other entity assisted by the project is likely to provide stable, long-term employment opportunities to reduce the dependence of the area on mining.
560.135(7)
(7) The department, with the approval of the board, shall promulgate rules establishing policies and standards for awarding grants and loans under
sub. (2), consistent with policies and standards established under the rules required under
s. 560.602. The department shall promulgate rules regarding the application processes for grants and loans under
sub. (2) and for loans made from revolving loan funds established with proceeds awarded under
sub. (2) (c).
560.135 History
History: 1997 a. 27.
560.14
560.14
Community-based economic development programs. 560.14(1)(a)
(a) "Applicable median household income" means the median family income for the county where the household is located, as determined annually by the U.S. department of housing and urban development.
560.14(1)(b)
(b) "Business incubator" means a person who operates an organization designed to encourage the growth of new businesses, if at least 2 of the following apply:
560.14(1)(b)1.
1. The organization rents space at a rate lower than the market rate in the community.
560.14(1)(b)3.
3. The organization makes available management and technical assistance.
560.14(1)(b)4.
4. Businesses using the organization may obtain financial capital through a direct relationship with at least one financial institution.
560.14(1)(c)
(c) "Community-based organization" means an organization that is involved in economic development and helps businesses that are likely to employ persons.
560.14(1)(f)
(f) "Political subdivision" means a county, city, village or town.
560.14(1)(fm)
(fm) "Small business" means a business that has fewer than 100 full-time employes.
560.14(1)(h)
(h) "Technology-based incubator" means a facility that provides a new or expanding technically oriented business with all of the following:
560.14(2)(a)(a) The department may make a grant to a community-based organization or a political subdivision from the appropriation under
s. 20.143 (1) (fg) to do any of the following:
560.14(2)(a)1.
1. Enable a community-based organization or a political subdivision receiving a grant to develop a plan for diversifying the local or regional economy, attracting new businesses and jobs and promoting economic development.
560.14(2)(a)2.
2. Enable a community-based organization receiving a grant to provide assistance to businesses or entrepreneurs, if the department determines that the entrepreneur or business will provide jobs.
560.14(2)(a)3.
3. Enable a community-based organization receiving a grant to conduct a local economic development project.
560.14(2)(c)
(c) An individual grant under this subsection may not exceed $30,000.
560.14(2)(d)
(d) A grant under this subsection to a political subdivision or community-based organization may not exceed 75% of the total cost of the project for which the grant is made, unless the department determines that the area where the funds will be used is in extreme financial hardship. The department may consider in-kind contributions when determining the total cost of a project under this paragraph.
560.14(3)(a)(a) The department may make grants from the appropriation under
s. 20.143 (1) (fg) to a community-based organization to fund any of the following:
560.14(3)(a)1.
1. The operation of an existing business incubator or technology-based incubator.
560.14(3)(a)2.
2. Technical assistance in the process of starting a business incubator or technology-based incubator, including a feasibility study of the need for and the initial design of the incubator.
560.14(3)(a)3.
3. Starting, expanding or rehabilitating a business incubator or technology-based incubator.
560.14(3)(a)4.
4. The creation of a revolving loan fund for tenants of a business incubator or technology-based incubator.
560.14(3)(b)
(b) The department may not make a grant under this subsection unless all of the following apply:
560.14(3)(b)3.
3. The total amount of grants under this subsection to a community-based organization do not exceed 50% of the total cost of the project for which the grants are made, unless the department determines that the area where the funds will be used is in extreme financial hardship. The department may consider in-kind contributions when determining the total cost of a project under this subdivision.
560.14(3)(b)5.
5. The community-based organization receiving the grant provides a written policy relating to how stable, maturing businesses in the business incubator or technology-based incubator will establish themselves outside of the incubator within a reasonable period of time.
560.14(3)(c)
(c) In making a grant under this subsection, the department shall consider all of the following:
560.14(3)(c)1.
1. The potential of the business incubator or technology-based incubator to help start businesses.
560.14(3)(c)2.
2. The potential of the business incubator or technology-based incubator to provide employment opportunities.
560.14(3)(c)3.
3. How the unemployment rate in the area in which the business incubator or technology-based incubator is or will be located compares to the state average.
560.14(3)(c)4.
4. How the household income levels of persons residing in the area in which the business incubator or technology-based incubator is or will be located compare to the applicable median household income.
560.14(3)(c)5.
5. How the assessed value of real property in the most recent assessment in the area in which the business incubator or technology-based incubator is or will be located compares to the assessed value of that property in the assessment 2 years before the most recent assessment.
560.14(3)(c)6.
6. How the percentage of households receiving aid to families with dependent children under
s. 49.19 in the area in which the business incubator or technology-based incubator is or will be located compares to the percentage of households receiving aid to families with dependent children in the state.
560.14(3)(c)7.
7. The percentage of members of the workforce in a city, village or town in the area in which the business incubator or technology-based incubator is or will be located that were permanently laid off by their employer in the 18 months immediately preceding the application.
560.14(3)(c)8.
8. Whether the business incubator or technology-based incubator is or will be located in an area that has been designated as a development zone under
s. 560.71, a development opportunity zone under
s. 560.795 or an enterprise development zone under
s. 560.797.
560.14(3)(d)1.1. The proceeds of a grant under
par. (a) 1. or
3. may be used to defray salaries, fringe benefits and other personnel, administrative and operating costs of the business incubator or technology-based incubator.
560.14(3)(d)2.
2. The proceeds of a grant under
par. (a) 2. or
3. may be used to fund those salaries, fringe benefits and other personnel, administrative and operating costs of the community-based organization that are directly related to starting, expanding or rehabilitating a business incubator or technology-based incubator.
560.14(3)(e)
(e) Grants under this subsection may not exceed whichever of the following applies:
560.14(3)(f)
(f) The department may not do any of the following:
560.14(3)(f)1.
1. Make grants under
par. (a) 1. to fund the operation of a particular business incubator or technology-based incubator in more than 5 years.
560.14(3)(f)2.
2. Make more than 2 grants under
par. (a) 2. for a particular business incubator or technology-based incubator.
560.14(3)(f)3.
3. Make more than 2 grants under
par. (a) 3. for a particular business incubator or technology-based incubator.
560.14(3)(f)4.
4. Make more than 2 grants under
par. (a) 4. for a particular business incubator or technology-based incubator.
560.14(3m)
(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.
560.14(3r)(a)(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:
560.14(3r)(a)1.
1. The foundation or organization teaches business skills to economically disadvantaged or socially at-risk children.
560.14(3r)(a)2.
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.
560.14(3r)(b)
(b) The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of the program under this subsection.
560.14(4)(a)(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 for regional economic development activity if all of the following apply:
560.14(4)(a)1.
1. A political subdivision in the region in which the economic development activity will be conducted joins in the application for the grant with the community-based organization.
560.14(4)(a)2.
2. The economic development activity is unique to or within the region.
560.14(4)(a)3.
3. The economic development activity is consistent with any economic development policy or plan of the political subdivision.
560.14(4)(a)4.
4. The economic development activity will likely stimulate investment in the region's economy or create or retain jobs in the region.
560.14(4)(a)5.
5. The community-based organization will receive contributions from private sources and from political subdivisions in the region for the economic development activity. The contributions may be in cash or in kind.
560.14(4)(a)6.
6. The applicants submit a plan that describes the economic development activity, how the economic development activity satisfies the criteria under this paragraph, 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.
560.14(4)(a)7.
7. The applicants provide documentation of the contributions required under
subd. 5.
560.14(4)(b)
(b) For grants under this subsection, the department may not award in any fiscal year more than the greater of $100,000 or 10% of the amount appropriated for the fiscal year under
s. 20.143 (1) (fg).
