State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Wisconsin > 560 > 560.17

560.17

560.17 Rural economic development program.

560.17(1)

(1) In this section:

560.17(1)(a)

(a) "Board" means the rural economic development board.

560.17(1)(am)

(am) "Brownfields" has the meaning given in s. 560.13 (1) (a).

560.17(1)(b)

(b) "Business" includes cooperatives organized under ch. 185 or 193.

560.17(1)(bm)

(bm) "Job" means a position providing full-time equivalent employment. "Job" does not include initial training before an employment position begins.

560.17(1)(br)

(br) "Management assistance" means engineering and legal services and professional assistance in establishing or improving management systems, policies or procedures in such management concerns as financial planning, personnel, inventory control, production planning, purchasing, bookkeeping, record keeping and marketing.

560.17(1)(c)

(c) "Professional services" includes all of the following:

560.17(1)(c)1.

1. Preparation of preliminary feasibility studies, feasibility studies or business and financial plans.

560.17(1)(c)2.

2. Providing a financial package.

560.17(1)(c)3.

3. Engineering studies, appraisals or marketing assistance.

560.17(1)(c)4.

4. Related legal, accounting or managerial services.

560.17(1)(d)

(d) "Rural municipality" means any of the following:

560.17(1)(d)1.

1. A city, town or village that is located in a county with a population density of less than 150 persons per square mile.

560.17(1)(d)2.

2. A city, town or village with a population of 6,000 or less.

560.17(2)

(2)

560.17(2)(a)

(a) At the request of the board, the department shall make a grant or loan to a business to which the board has awarded a grant or loan under this section.

560.17(2)(b)

(b) The department shall make the grant or loan from the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (er) or (ir).

560.17(3)

(3) Subject to sub. (4m), the board may award a grant under this subsection to a business if all of the following apply:

560.17(3)(a)

(a) The amount of the grant does not exceed $15,000.

560.17(3)(b)

(b) The business, together with any affiliate, subsidiary or parent entity, has fewer than 50 employees.

560.17(3)(c)

(c) The business is located in a rural municipality.

560.17(3)(d)

(d) The business is starting or expanding its operations.

560.17(3)(e)

(e) The proceeds of the grant will be used by the business as provided in sub. (5).

560.17(3)(f)

(f) The board considers the factors listed in sub. (4).

560.17(4)

(4) Before awarding a grant under sub. (3), the board shall consider all of the following:

560.17(4)(a)

(a) The extent to which the start-up or expansion of the business will create new jobs.

560.17(4)(b)

(b) The economic condition of the rural municipality.

560.17(4)(c)

(c) The number of new jobs created by the business in relation to the amount of the grant.

560.17(4)(cm)

(cm) In relation to the amount of the grant, the number of existing jobs that will be retained by the business if the grant is awarded and that likely would not be retained if the grant is not awarded.

560.17(4)(d)

(d) The degree to which the new or expanded operations of the business will provide beneficial services to the rural municipality where it is located.

560.17(4)(e)

(e) Whether financing is available from other sources.

560.17(4)(f)

(f) Whether the business would be able to start or expand its operations without a grant.

560.17(4m)

(4m) Of the total amount awarded in grants in a fiscal biennium under sub. (3), the board shall award not less than 25% and not more than 50% for purposes related to an agricultural business. The board shall give priority under this subsection for grants that will be used for purposes related to a dairy farm, as defined in s. 97.22 (1) (a).

560.17(5)

(5) A business shall use the proceeds of a grant under sub. (3) to pay for any of the following:

560.17(5)(a)

(a) Professional services related to starting or expanding the business.

560.17(5)(b)

(b) Management assistance continuing after the start-up or expansion.

560.17(5c)

(5c)

560.17(5c)(a)

(a) Subject to par. (b), the board may award a grant under this subsection to a person or business proposing to start up, modernize or expand in this state a dairy farm, as defined in s. 97.22 (1) (a), or other agricultural business if all of the following apply:

560.17(5c)(a)1.

1. The dairy farm or other agricultural business is or will be owned by the person or business.

560.17(5c)(a)3.

3. The grant proceeds will be used to pay for services related to the start-up, modernization, or expansion of the dairy farm or other agricultural business, or for management assistance continuing after the completion of the start-up, modernization, or expansion of the dairy farm or other agricultural business.

560.17(5c)(a)4.

4. The grant is likely to result in the start-up, modernization or expansion of the dairy farm or other agricultural business.

560.17(5c)(b)

(b) The total amount of grants awarded under this subsection in any fiscal year may not exceed $500,000.

560.17(5m)

(5m)

560.17(5m)(a)

(a) Subject to par. (cm), the board may award a grant or loan under this subsection that does not exceed $100,000 to a business if all of the following apply:

560.17(5m)(a)1.

1. The business, together with any affiliate, subsidiary or parent entity, has fewer than 50 employees.

560.17(5m)(a)2.

2. The business is located in a rural municipality.

560.17(5m)(a)3.

3. The business is starting or expanding its operations.

560.17(5m)(a)4.

4. The business successfully demonstrates the feasibility of the project.

560.17(5m)(a)5.

5. Financing is unavailable from any other source on reasonably equivalent terms.

560.17(5m)(b)

(b) A business shall use the proceeds of a grant or loan under this subsection for any of the following:

560.17(5m)(b)1.

1. Working capital.

560.17(5m)(b)2.

2. Fixed asset financing.

560.17(5m)(b)3.

3. Employee relocation costs.

560.17(5m)(bm)

(bm) If a business receives a grant or loan under this subsection for the purpose specified in par. (b) 3., the department shall ensure that an employee of the business has the option of accepting or declining any relocation assistance that is available as a result of the grant or loan.

560.17(5m)(cm)

(cm) Of the total amount awarded in grants and loans in a fiscal biennium under this subsection, the board shall award not less than 25% and not more than 50% for purposes related to an agricultural business. The board shall give priority under this paragraph for grants or loans that will be used for purposes related to a dairy farm, as defined in 97.22 (1) (a).

560.17(6)

(6) Before awarding a loan under this section, the board shall do all of the following:

560.17(6)(a)

(a) Determine the terms for repayment of the principal amount of the loan.

560.17(6)(c)

(c) Establish all other terms and conditions of the loan after considering the circumstances of the particular business.

560.17(6m)

(6m) To receive a grant or loan under this section a person or business shall contribute cash, from a source other than the state, in an amount that equals at least 25% of the total cost of the project.

560.17(6r)

(6r) The board shall give priority for grants or loans under this section for projects related to brownfields redevelopment.

560.17(7)

(7)

560.17(7)(a)

(a) Except as provided in par. (am), the department shall designate staff to evaluate applications for grants or loans and assist the board under this section. The board shall act on an application for a grant or loan at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the department determines that the application is complete.

560.17(7)(am)

(am) The department of commerce and the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall designate staff to evaluate applications for grants or loans for purposes related to agricultural businesses and to make recommendations and assist the board with respect to those applications.

560.17(7)(b)

(b) The board or department shall deposit all interest or principal payments received for loans made under this section in the appropriation under s. 20.143 (1) (ir).

560.17(7)(d)

(d) The department or board may not limit the time period during which applications for grants and loans under this section may be accepted.

560.17(7)(e)

(e) If the board awards, and the department makes, a grant under sub. (3) or (5c), the department may contract directly with and pay grant proceeds directly to any person providing technical or management assistance to the grant recipient.

560.17 - ANNOT.

History: 1989 a. 31, 359; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27, 237; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2001 a. 109 ss. 475, 484; 2005 a. 441; 2007 a. 20, 125.

560.17 - ANNOT.

Cross Reference: See also s. Comm 116.01, Wis. adm. code.