MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced the award of over $19.7 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Facilities funding to support community improvement projects in 20 communities across the state. While projects receiving funding include efforts to improve or repair local roads, drainage systems, water and sewer systems, sidewalks, and other public facilities on which the community relies, President Donald J. Trump has proposed to eliminate the CDBG-Public Facilities program in his upcoming Federal Fiscal Year 2027 (FFY27) budget, calling the future of this critical funding into question for local leaders who depend on these dollars to improve and maintain local infrastructure.

“Investments like this connect the dots in our communities to fix our main streets, ensure clean safe drinking water, bolster housing and infrastructure, create jobs, and provide countless other critical improvements that improve the daily lives of everyone who calls our state home, which is why it is imperative that Congress ensure funding for this program and others like it remain in the next federal budget,” said Gov. Evers. “As the Trump Administration works to undermine our state’s ability to address local needs by slashing federal programs folks have relied on for over half a century, we will continue fighting to ensure local governments receive the support they’ve been promised and to invest in the future Wisconsin deserves.” 

Wisconsin receives CDBG funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and distributes those funds toward public facility, housing, and economic development projects that benefit individuals with low and moderate incomes. The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) administers the CDBG program to support critical public infrastructure projects in low- to moderate-income communities with populations of 50,000 or fewer throughout the state. 

“This pivotal grant program has long been critical for our smaller communities, helping build for our immediate needs as well as the future,” said DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “We look forward to visiting and celebrating these improvements across the state and are grateful to Gov. Evers for his dedicated support that makes these investments possible.”

President Trump’s proposed FFY27 budget makes significant changes and cuts to several of HUD’s housing and community development programs, including eliminating the CDBG program in its entirety. If passed, President Trump’s budget would have detrimental impacts on housing and community development efforts in Wisconsin, including efforts to make critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades, expand affordable housing, address homelessness, and more. Gov. Evers has sent a series of letters to members of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation in recent weeks, urging bipartisan opposition to harmful provisions in President Trump’s proposed budget.

Communities receiving a combined $19,785,530 in CDBG-Public Facility awards include:

  • City of Barron – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Birnamwood – $1 million for sanitary sewer system infrastructure improvements and wastewater treatment plant upgrades; 
  • Village of Cameron – $785,530 for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Cassville – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Clear Lake – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • City of Crandon – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Town of Jacobs – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Junction City – $1 million for wastewater treatment plant improvements; 
  • City of Ladysmith – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Town of Laona – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • City of Menomonie – $1 million for well and water system infrastructure improvements; 
  • City of New Lisbon – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements;
  • City of Niagara – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Port Edwards – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Rewey – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Ridgeway – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Stratford – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Theresa – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • City of Waupun – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; and 
  • City of Wautoma – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements. 

The DOA Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR) administers Wisconsin’s Small Cities Community Development Block Grant program. A total of $37,158,036.25 in match funding from applicants will be leveraged with these 2026 CDBG-PF awards. More information is available on the DEHCR website.  

An online version of this release is available here.