Madison, WI – Yesterday, the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) released recommendations for local building projects to receive state dollars from the Non-State Grant Program. Among those selected projects were four Fox Valley organizations: the Building for Kids Children’s Museum, ADVOCAP, First 5 Fox Valley, and Fox Cities Sports Development. 

“Kids are our future, and these projects are all a direct investment in the next generation,” said Senator Dassler-Alfheim. “One of the reasons I voted for the state budget was because it included $50 million for these local project grants, and these are exactly the types of investments in the Fox Valley that I was hoping we would see. I supported all of these projects when they applied and it’s exciting to see that they’ve made the list of recommendations. I’m optimistic that the State Building Commission members will see the value in them that I do, and the funding requests will be granted.” 

The Building for Kids Children’s Museum requested $250,000 to enhance museum services, address safety vulnerabilities, expand STEM learning opportunities, and expand the publicly accessible gallery space to include a new immersive play-based learning environment. DOA recommended they receive $137,023. 

ADVOCAP requested $1,025,512 for a Childcare Incubator, a strategic initiative to improve access to affordable childcare by helping new childcare providers get started. DOA recommended they receive $86,500. 

First Five Fox Valley recommended $2 million for a Family Resource Center to serve as a one-stop-shop for families to access assistance navigating resources, referrals, developmental screenings, parenting classes, and more. DOA recommended they receive their full funding request of $2 million. 

Fox Cities Sports Development requested $2 million for an expansion of the Community First Champion Center that will allow more teams to participate in tournaments, generating an additional $2.5 million annually in direct visitor spending in the Fox Valley. DOA recommended they receive $800,000. 

$50 million for the Grants for Local Projects Program was enumerated in the 2025-2027 state budget, which Sen. Dassler-Alfheim voted to pass, to disburse to non-profit organizations for community improvement projects. This year, the program drew 257 statewide applications requesting over $278 million for different projects across the state. The Wisconsin State Building Commission is scheduled to vote on final approval of the projects on May 13, 2026. 

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