The state main street program and business area revitalization services

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is required to establish and administer a state main street program to assist municipalities in planning, managing, and implementing programs for the revitalization of business areas. Under the state main street program, WEDC assists municipalities in increasing economic activity in a business area within the municipality while preserving and building on the business area's historically significant characteristics. From those municipalities that file applications, WEDC may annually select up to five municipalities to participate in the program for five years each. This bill increases the number of municipalities that WEDC may annually accept into the state main street program from five to ten.

Under current law, WEDC may also provide training, technical assistance, and information on the revitalization of business areas to municipalities that do not participate in the state main street program. Current law further provides that WEDC may charge reasonable fees for services and information it provides to a municipality that is not participating in the state main street program. This bill authorizes WEDC to establish and administer a program to provide business area revitalization services to municipalities that include a business area and that are not participating in the state main street program. Under this bill, a municipality that includes a business area and is not participating in the state main street program is called a downtown affiliate. This bill provides that WEDC may charge downtown affiliates for services provided under the program.

Who's behind it

12 lawmakers are its authors⁠. 11 are Democrats and 1 is a Republican.

5 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.