SB 112

This bill authorizes the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation

(WEDC) to award a grant of up to $3,000 to a new business for expenses related to

hiring, as a paid intern, a student enrolled at an institution of higher education who

studies business, engineering, information technology, or a similar field

(entrepreneurial assistance grant). Under the bill, a new business is a business

organized in this state no earlier than five years before the business applies for an

entrepreneurial assistance grant. Additionally, if WEDC awards an entrepreneurial

assistance grant to three or more businesses to fund internships for students

enrolled at a single institution of higher education, and the institution develops a

program to support internships funded by these grants, WEDC may award an

additional grant of up to $25,000 to the institution. Finally, this bill requires WEDC

to allocate at least $125,000 in each fiscal year to fund grants authorized under the

bill and to submit a report on the effectiveness of those grants to the legislature no

later than February 1, 2019.