Governor urges approval of local community development projects ahead of upcoming State Building Commission meeting

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), today announced $50 million for 71 projects in communities across Wisconsin funded through the Non-State Grant Program, which was created in the 2023-25 Biennial Budget enacted by Gov. Evers. This program works to support local infrastructure improvement and community development projects across the state that have a public purpose. These grants will be voted on to be approved at the upcoming Wisconsin State Building Commission meeting, which the governor chairs, on Wed., May 13, 2026.

“Whether it’s expanding libraries, upgrading essential services facilities, or revitalizing museums and cultural institutions for Wisconsinites and visitors alike to enjoy, these non-state grants will help support the success and overall well-being of kids, families, and communities all across the state,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m proud of our work to secure funding for this important program in the last two budgets I signed, and I look forward to the State Building Commission joining me in supporting this good work by releasing the $50 million in funding for these critical building projects so our communities can continue to grow and thrive.”

Gov. Evers has made building strong, safe, and resilient communities a top priority and is committed to ensuring the state’s infrastructure, workforce, and economy are prepared to meet the needs of the 21st Century. The Non-State Grant Program was originally created with a $50 million allocation of state funding as part of the 2023-25 Biennial Budget signed into law by Gov. Evers. To date, the Non-State Grant Program has supported 50 community projects statewide, including local health clinics, community centers, libraries, veterans organizations, emergency response facilities, and more.

The original $50 million Non-State Grant Program came in addition to another $36.6 million investment by Gov. Evers using the state’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation to support five non-state building projects in Janesville, Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Door County that were previously rejected by members of the Wisconsin State Legislature in the 2023-25 Capital Budget process.

Building upon these efforts, the bipartisan 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed into law by Gov. Evers continued funding for this critical program with another $50 million investment to continue serving communities across the state.

This announcement also comes as, in celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week, the governor has been traveling around the state this week, highlighting Wisconsin’s thriving travel and tourism industry and recognizing the industry’s contributions to the state’s economy, workforce, and quality of life. The governor’s travel included visits to projects that are expected to receive support through this round of the Non-State Grant Program, including the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Mitchell Park Domes, the Yerkes Observatory, and the Wisconsin Maritime Museum.

The 71 Non-State Grant Program projects that will be voted on by the State Building Commission next week include:

Community Centers and Housing: 

  • $900,000 to GiGi’s Playhouse-Madison for the GiGi’s Playhouse Capital Project; 
  • $200,000 to the Village of Oregon for the Oregon Area Senior Center and Community Gymnasium building project; 
  • $2 million to The Salvation Army of Dane County for The Salvation Army of Dane County Purpose-Built Shelter for Women and Families; 
  • $900,000 to Kinship MKE Inc. d/b/a Kinship Community Food Center for the Building a Place for Kinship project; 
  • $2 million to United Community Center for the UCC Burnham Early Learning Academy; 
  • $75,900 to the Veterans 1st of NEW Inc. for the Veterans 1st of NEW Village; 
  • $86,500 to ADVOCAP Inc. for the ADVOCAP Childcare Incubator; 
  • $800,000 to Fox Cities Sports Development Inc. for the Court Expansion of the Community First Champion Center; 
  • $800,000 to Badgerland After School Enrichment Program Inc. for the BASE Future Home Community Center; 
  • $2 million to First 5 Fox Valley Inc. for the new Together for Families: Family Resource Center; 
  • $400,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Barron County for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Barron County’s New Clubhouse for Kids; and 
  • $2 million to the St. Croix Valley Food Bank for the Permanent Food Bank Facility.

Public Facilities:  

  • $142,000 to Bayfield County for the Bayfield County Facilities Preservation; 
  • $800,000 to the city of New Richmond for the New Richmond Community Library; 
  • $157,500 to Sauk County Land Resources and Environment for the Sauk County Farm Facilities; 
  • $265,000 to the town of Milton, Rock County, for the New Joint Town Hall – Police Department – Municipal Court Building; 
  • $376,000 to the Brown County Library for the new branch library in Ashwaubenon; 
  • $187,000 to the Salem School District for the Salem School District Capital Repair and Water Quality Project; 
  • $800,000 to Chilton Public Library for the Chilton Broadband-Enabled Library & Community Facility; 
  • $238,000 to the Mukwonago Community Library for the Building Belonging: Mukwonago Community Library’s Investment in Where Our Community Gathers and Connects; 
  • $800,000 to the city of Delavan for the Rooted in Our Community, Growing for the Future: Aram Public Library Expansion & Renovation project; 
  • $560,000 to Burlington Library Foundation Inc. for the Our Community Library – Thinking Outside the Books; 
  • $750,000 to the Beloit Public Library for the Discovery PLAYce at the Beloit Public Library; 
  • $1.2 million to the Madison Public Library for the new Imagination Center at Reindahl Park; 
  • $2 million to the city of Racine for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center; and 
  • $250,000 to Kenosha County Planning and Development for the Pike River South Branch Restoration Project.

Economic Development and Workforce Training:  

  • $1.8 million to Neu-Life Community Development for the NeuVue Project; 
  • $1 million to Mount Mary University Inc. for The Next Generation of Care: Empowering Nurses Through Innovation and Integration; 
  • $468,900 to Wello Inc. for the Cultivating Community: Advancing Economic Development and Sustainability Moving Wisconsin’s Food System Forward for the Future project; 
  • $2 million to the Wisconsin Rural Water Association for the National Water College Field Training Center; 
  • $1.5 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse Workforce Readiness Project; and 
  • $600,000 to Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc. for the WDEOC Housing & Family Services and Day Resource Center.

Healthcare and Emergency Services:  

  • $200,000 to Aspirus Health for the Aspirus Merrill Hospital Inpatient Bed Addition; 
  • $2 million to Mooring Programs Inc. d/b/a Apricity for the Capital Project to Expand Access to Residential Treatment for Individuals with Substance Use Disorder in Northeast Wisconsin; 
  • $1.2 million to the city of Green Bay for the Green Bay Fire Station Flats Apartments; 
  • $800,000 to the city of Marshfield for the city of Marshfield police department relocation project; 
  • $224,000 to the town of Newton for the new town of Newton Fire & EMS facility; 
  • $900,000 to Aspirus Health for the Aspirus Chippewa Falls Emergency Department; 
  • $252,000 to the town of Shelby for the relocation and upgrade of the Shelby Fire Station; 
  • $145,000 to the Mile Bluff Medical Center for upgrades to the Mile Bluff Medical Center – MRI and Imaging Suite; 
  • $330,000 to the Rock River Community Clinic Inc. for the Moving Upstream: 2025-2026 Capital Campaign for Rock River Community Clinic; 
  • $2 million to Carroll University Inc. for the Increasing Southern Wisconsin’s Access to Care and Growing Quality Healthcare Workforce through Renovation at Carroll University project; 
  • $925,000 to Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers for the REACH Center Expansion and Integration Project: A Blueprint for Integrated Health and Social Services in Wisconsin; 
  • $1.2 million to the city of West Bend for the new construction and site improvements to the city of West Bend Fire Station #1; 
  • $800,000 to Mayville EMS for the Mayville EMS and Mayville Training Center New Building; 
  • $800,000 to the city of Prairie du Chien for the Prairie du Chien Public Safety Center; and
  • $800,000 to the city of Hartford for the Hartford Fire Station 2.

Arts, Culture, and Recreation:  

  • $500,000 to Olbrich Botanical Gardens to replace The Bolz Conservatory’s windows; 
  • $200,000 to the city of Middleton Parks & Recreation for the new Parisi Park Shelter; 
  • $100,000 to the Historic Haymarket Milwaukee for the transformation of the Milwaukee Public Museum into the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin; 
  • $2 million to the Milwaukee Domes Alliance for The Domes: Reimagined project; 
  • $291,201 to the Waupaca Community Arts Board for the Waupaca Community Arts Hub; 
  • $137,023 to the Building for Kids Children’s Museum for the Building for Kids Children’s Museum Strategic Expansion Project; 
  • Nearly $1.1 million to the Performing Arts Foundation Inc. for The Grand Theater – Second Century Project; 
  • $975,593 to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum for the Maritime Heritage Center Revitalization Project; 
  • $168,700 to On Broadway Inc. for the Green Bay Public Market; 
  • $600,000 to Colfax Railroad Museum Inc. for the Colfax Railroad Museum; 
  • $106,000 to Northwest Passage LTD for the Community Commons at Northwest Passage Gallery; 
  • $192,500 to Brodhead Jaycees for the revitalization of the Brodhead Community Splash Pad & Park; 
  • $50,000 to Mineral Point Opera House Inc. for the Mineral Point Opera House Exterior Preservation – Masonry & Roof Work; 
  • $285,000 to the American Players Theatre for the American Players Theatre “Seats and Storage” Infrastructure Project; 
  • $700,000 to the Yerkes Future Foundation for the Play/Space & Cosmic Family Pavilion; 
  • $26,000 to Walworth County for the restoration of the Webster House; 
  • $108,000 to the Swiss Center of North America for the New Glarus Glarner Community Complex; 
  • $142,000 to Jamison Museum Association d/b/a Friends of The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums for the improvements to the entrance and museum store at The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museum; 
  • $116,000 to the Sauk Prairie School District for the modernization of the River Arts Center; 
  • $56,000 to the Beloit Historical Society for the Beloit Historical Society Parking Lot Reconstruction Project; 
  • $189,000 to the Oconomowoc Historical Society Inc. for the Rooted in History, Reaching for the Future project; 
  • $84,000 to Richland County Performing Arts Council Inc. for the City Auditorium Renovation Project; 
  • $244,000 to Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts for the ACCESS Initiative: Advancing Capacity, Community, Efficiency, Safety, and Sustainability; and 
  • $1 million to the city of Shullsburg for the revitalization of the Badger Mine & Museum.

The Building Commission is chaired by Gov. Evers and made up of the following members: 

  • State Sen. Brad Pfaff; 
  • State Sen. Mary Felzkowski; 
  • State Sen. André Jacque; 
  • State Rep. Jill Billings; 
  • State Rep. Rob Swearingen; 
  • State Rep. Robert Wittke; and 
  • Citizen Member Barb Worcester.

Additional information about the Non-State Grant Program is available on DOA’s website.

An online version of this release is available here.