560.17(4)(c)
(c) The number of new jobs created by the business in relation to the amount of the grant.
560.17(4)(cm)
(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.
560.17(4)(d)
(d) The degree to which the new or expanded operations of the business will provide beneficial services to the rural municipality where it is located.
560.17(4)(e)
(e) Whether financing is available from other sources.
560.17(4)(f)
(f) Whether the business would be able to start or expand its operations without a grant.
560.17(4m)
(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).
560.17(5)
(5) A business shall use the proceeds of a grant under
sub. (3) to pay for any of the following:
560.17(5)(a)
(a) Professional services related to starting or expanding the business.
560.17(5)(b)
(b) Management assistance continuing after the start-up or expansion.
560.17(5c)(a)(a) Subject to
par. (b), the board may award a grant under this subsection to a person or business proposing to start up, modernize or expand in this state a dairy farm, as defined in
s. 97.22 (1) (a), or other agricultural business if all of the following apply:
560.17(5c)(a)1.
1. The dairy farm or other agricultural business is or will be owned by the person or business.
560.17(5c)(a)3.
3. The grant proceeds will be used to pay for services related to the start-up, modernization, or expansion of the dairy farm or other agricultural business, or for management assistance continuing after the completion of the start-up, modernization, or expansion of the dairy farm or other agricultural business.
560.17(5c)(a)4.
4. The grant is likely to result in the start-up, modernization or expansion of the dairy farm or other agricultural business.
560.17(5c)(b)
(b) The total amount of grants awarded under this subsection in any fiscal year may not exceed $500,000.
560.17(5m)(a)(a) Subject to
par. (cm), the board may award a grant or loan under this subsection that does not exceed $100,000 to a business if all of the following apply:
560.17(5m)(a)1.
1. The business, together with any affiliate, subsidiary or parent entity, has fewer than 50 employees.
560.17(5m)(a)4.
4. The business successfully demonstrates the feasibility of the project.
560.17(5m)(a)5.
5. Financing is unavailable from any other source on reasonably equivalent terms.
560.17(5m)(b)
(b) A business shall use the proceeds of a grant or loan under this subsection for any of the following:
560.17(5m)(bm)
(bm) If a business receives a grant or loan under this subsection for the purpose specified in
par. (b) 3., the department shall ensure that an employee of the business has the option of accepting or declining any relocation assistance that is available as a result of the grant or loan.
560.17(5m)(cm)
(cm) Of the total amount awarded in grants and loans in a fiscal biennium under this subsection, 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 paragraph for grants or loans that will be used for purposes related to a dairy farm, as defined in 97.22 (1) (a).
560.17(5r)(a)(a) Under this subsection, the board may award to a business a loan that does not exceed $50,000 if all of the following apply:
560.17(5r)(a)1.
1. The business, together with any affiliate, subsidiary or parent entity, has fewer than 50 employees.
560.17(5r)(a)2.
2. The business is or will be located in a rural municipality.
560.17(5r)(a)3.
3. The rural municipality in which the business is or will be located satisfies either of the following criteria:
560.17(5r)(a)3.a.
a. The rural municipality is located in a county that has a median household income that is lower than the state median household income.
560.17(5r)(a)3.b.
b. If the rural municipality is located in a county that has a median household income that is higher than the state median household income, the rural municipality has a median household income that is lower than the county median household income.
560.17(5r)(a)5.
5. The operations of the business do not involve metallic mining activities.
560.17(5r)(a)6.
6. The owner of the business attends a class that provides instruction in writing a business plan, making a business loan application and managing a start-up business.
560.17(5r)(b)
(b) A business applying for a loan under this subsection must submit an application package that includes a business plan and such personal and business financial information as the board requires to enable the board to assess sufficiently the potential viability of the business. The department shall assist a business in preparing an application.
560.17(5r)(c)
(c) A business that receives a loan under this subsection may use the loan proceeds for any of the following purposes:
560.17(5r)(c)2.
2. The purchase of buildings, furniture, fixtures, machinery, equipment or inventory.
560.17(5r)(d)
(d) If a business that receives a loan under this subsection uses the loan proceeds for employee relocation costs under
par. (c) 4., the department shall ensure all of the following:
560.17(5r)(d)1.
1. That an employee of the business has the option of accepting or declining any relocation assistance that is available as a result of the loan.
560.17(5r)(d)2.
2. That the compensation and benefits terms offered at the new location are at least as favorable as those offered by the business at its previous location.
560.17(6)
(6) Before awarding a loan under this section, the board shall do all of the following:
560.17(6)(a)
(a) Determine the terms for repayment of the principal amount of the loan.
560.17(6)(c)
(c) Establish all other terms and conditions of the loan after considering the circumstances of the particular business.
560.17(6m)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), in order to receive a grant or loan under this section a person or business shall contribute cash, from a source other than the state, in an amount that equals at least 25% of the total cost of the project.
560.17(6m)(b)
(b) The board shall determine whether, and the extent to which, in order to receive a loan under
sub. (5r), a business must contribute from a source other than the state a portion of the cost of the project, except that the board may not require a business to contribute more than 20% of the cost of the project. The contribution may be in cash or in kind. The board shall determine what services or materials may be used as in-kind contributions.
560.17(6r)
(6r) The board shall give priority for grants or loans under this section for projects related to brownfields redevelopment.
560.17(7)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (am), the department shall designate staff to evaluate applications for grants or loans and assist the board under this section. The board shall act on an application for a grant or loan at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the department determines that the application is complete, except that the board shall act on an application for a loan under
sub. (5r) and advise the applicant of its decision within 45 days after the department determines that the application is complete.
560.17(7)(am)
(am) The department of commerce and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall designate staff to evaluate applications for grants or loans for purposes related to agricultural businesses and to make recommendations and assist the board with respect to those applications.
560.17(7)(b)
(b) The board or department shall deposit all interest or principal payments received for loans made under this section in the appropriation under
s. 20.143 (1) (ir).
560.17(7)(d)
(d) The department or board may not limit the time period during which applications for grants and loans under this section may be accepted.
560.17(7)(e)
(e) If the board awards, and the department makes, a grant under
sub. (3) or
(5c), the department may contract directly with and pay grant proceeds directly to any person providing technical or management assistance to the grant recipient.
560.17 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also s.
Comm 116.01, Wis. adm. code.
560.175
560.175
Urban area early planning grants. 560.175(1)(a)
(a) "Early planning project" means the preliminary stages of considering and planning the expansion or start-up of a business that is or will be located in an urban area in this state.
560.175(1)(b)1.
1. A city, village or town that is located in a county with a population density of at least 150 persons per square mile.
560.175(1)(b)2.
2. A city, village or town with a population of more than 6,000.
560.175(2)
(2) Subject to
subs. (3) and
(6), the department may make a grant from the appropriation under
s. 20.143 (1) (c) to a person to fund an early planning project.
560.175(3)
(3) The department may not award a grant to a person under this section unless the person submits an application, in a form required by the department, that contains or describes all of the following:
560.175(3)(b)
(b) The ownership structure of the new or expanding business.
560.175(3)(c)
(c) The product or service provided by the new or expanding business.
560.175(3)(f)
(f) Any competitive advantages of the new or expanding business.
560.175(3)(g)
(g) The person's estimate of the gross revenue of the new or expanding business over a period specified by the department.
560.175(3)(h)
(h) The process for manufacturing the product, or providing the services, of the new or expanding business.
560.175(3)(i)
(i) An estimate of the number of jobs that will be created by the new or expanding business.
560.175(3)(k)
(k) The person's estimate of the profit that will be generated by the new or expanding business over a period specified by the department.
560.175(3)(L)
(L) The person's estimate of the capital required to complete the early planning project.
560.175(3)(m)
(m) Potential sources of financing for the early planning project.
560.175(3)(n)
(n) Any other information that the department requests.
560.175(4)
(4) A person who receives a grant under this section may use the grant proceeds only for any of the following:
