MADISON, Wis. — Last March, when Republicans like Representative Gallagher and Senator Johnson voted against the American Rescue Plan, Wisconsin’s GOP lawmakers continued their long history of voting against the Wisconsinites’ best interests. Luckily, Democrats in Congress passed President Biden’s widely popular relief plan without the GOP, single-handedly delivering $2.68 billion in state fiscal relief and $2.1 billion in local fiscal relief to Wisconsin communities.

Across the state, those ARP funds allocated by Gov. Evers have been helping communities build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic by putting shots in arms, checks in pockets, and providing the resources to address persistent and hyper-specific community needs.

Here’s what people across the state are reading about President Biden, Gov. Evers, and Wisconsin’s Democratic lawmakers efforts to work with local elected officials to provide essential services and critical relief to communities across the state:

The County Line: Scenic Bluffs gets $580,000 in American Rescue Plan funding

  • “Mari Frieberg, Scenic Bluffs’ chief executive officer, said, ‘We are very grateful for this direct federal investment in our work and services through the American Rescue Plan. This funding will be used to enhance and build out our Norwalk facility, improving utilization and services in that location.’”

Sheboygan Press: Here’s how Sheboygan city and county officials might spend a ‘tremendous influx’ of pandemic funds

  • “Sheboygan County municipalities will receive $51.4 million from the American Rescue Plan’s pandemic recovery funding. The City of Sheboygan and Sheboygan County will receive about $22 million each.
  • “County Administrator Adam Payne said that in his 23 years on the job, he’s never seen anything like the amount of revenue coming to local governments, calling it a ‘tremendous influx of resources.’”

Manitowoc Herald Times: Manitowoc County plans to share nearly half of American Rescue Plan funds with municipalities

  • “Manitowoc County is offering to use nearly half of the $15.3 million promised through the American Rescue Plan Act to help local municipalities with various projects.”
  • “County Executive Bob Ziegelbauer said in a letter that he will propose a cost-sharing program that will provide 50% of the costs to remove lead pipe laterals in the cities’ water system.”
  • “For villages and townships, which don’t have systems that need lead pipe lateral replacement, the money can be used on water and sewer projects, broadband projects and replacement of county approved emergency radios.”

Kenosha News: “Wisconsin Dells will use COVID-19 funds to replace 23% loss of premier resort tax money”

  • “Wisconsin Dells will use all of its COVID-19 federal stimulus money to help replace a nearly 23% loss in premier resort tax revenue the city experienced last year when tourism grinded to a halt due to the pandemic’s restrictions and safer-at-home orders.”
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