Capitol Update
by Senator Howard Marklein
June 12, 2020

Short Deadlines for Farm and Small Business Grants
 

Two significant grant programs for farmers and small businesses to receive assistance from Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding open for applications on Monday, June 15, 2020. Both of these grant programs have very short deadlines and those who are eligible should apply right away!
 
The Wisconsin Farm Support program will provide $1,000–$3,000 grants for farms.  The application opens on Monday, June 15, 2020 and closes Monday, June 29, 2020.
 
The We’re All In grant program is for small businesses and will provide $2,500 grants to 30,000 small businesses. The application opens on Monday, June 15, 2020 and closes on Sunday, June 21, 2020 (less than a week).
 
The funds for these programs are from the Federal CARES Act funding that was provided to the state of Wisconsin. The United States Congress passed this appropriations act in March 2020.
 
Wisconsin Farm Support Program
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is working with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) to administer the program.  The Wisconsin Farm Support grant program will send $50 million in direct aid payments to Wisconsin farmers who have experienced losses due to COVID-19.
 
The grant program was designed after input from most of the largest ag-industry associations in Wisconsin. I led a coalition of 39 legislators in supporting this program and appreciate that the administration agreed to use discretionary funding to provide this support.
 
Applications for the Wisconsin Farm Support program open on Monday, June 15, 2020. The deadline to apply is Monday, June 29, 2020.
 
To be eligible, farmers must have gross income between $35,000 and $5,000,000 in 2019. Individual payments will range from $1,000-$3,500 and will be issued after the application period closes on June 29, 2020.
 
Please apply as soon as you can so that you will have time to resolve any potential issues with your application.  Apply online at www.revenue.wi.gov. If you are unable to apply online, please call 608-266-2772. 
 
Please visit https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/TaxPro/2020/FarmSupportProgram.aspx#passive5 for a directory of frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the grant program.
 
We’re All In Grant Program for Small Businesses
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is also be providing 30,000 small businesses with $2,500 grants. The on-line grant application for the "We're All In" Grant, will run from Monday, June 15, 2020 to Sunday, June 21, 2020.
 
The grant program is designed to help small businesses with the cost of business interruption, health and safety improvements, wages and salaries, rent, mortgages and inventory.
 
To be eligible, businesses must be Wisconsin based for-profit businesses, employ 20 or fewer total full-time employees, earn more than $0.00, but less than $1 million in annual revenues, and started operating prior to January 1, 2020 and still have been in businesses as of February 2020.
 
Applicants must include a letter or email from a community organization (such as a Chamber of Commerce) indicating the business was in operation in February 2020.
 
Please visit www.wedc.org for the application on June 15, 2020.  More information and FAQs are available now.
 
Again, the deadline for the We’re All In grant program is Sunday, June 21, 2020 – less than one week. Do not wait to apply if you are eligible for this assistance.
 
As always, please do not hesitate to connect with me to provide input, ideas or to seek assistance.  Send an email to sen.marklein@legis.wisconsin.gov or call 608-266-0703.