MADISON, Wis. — After a year of uncertainty for Wisconsin’s tourism industry, the state is stepping in to lend a helping hand.
Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday more than $140 million in grants for the state’s tourism and entertainment industries. Included in the grants is funding for lodging, movie theaters, live event venues, summer camps, minor league sports teams and more.
“Wisconsin is bouncing back stronger than ever,” Evers said. “Whether it’s an urban or a rural destination, these investments will help make sure that local venues and businesses come out of this pandemic ready to welcome folks from communities around Wisconsin and across the country. Wisconsin is the best place to live, play, and work, and investing in businesses that promote culture and entertainment in our communities will pay dividends for Wisconsinites and communities across our state.”
Funds for the grant program come from the federal American Rescue Plan Act that was passed earlier this year. The grants will be administered by the Department of Administration and the Department of Revenue.
The funding will be split as follows:
- $75 million for lodging grants
- $11.25 million for movie theaters
- $12 million for live event small businesses
- $2.8 million for minor league sports teams
- $10 million for live venues
- $15 million for destination marketing organizations
- $8 million for summer camps
- $1 million for the Wisconsin Historical Society to assist in reopening historical sites
- $7.5 million to increase marketing support for Wisconsin’s tourism industry
Businesses interested in getting more information about the grants and application process can sign up for alerts online.
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