MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers announced today that the Wisconsin State Building Commission met to approve approximately $248 million in projects across the state. In addition to regular maintenance, building, and repairs at several state buildings, this funding includes $50 million for 71 local community development projects across Wisconsin funded through the Non-State Grant Program. The Non-State Grant Program was created in the 2023-25 Biennial Budget enacted by Gov. Evers to support local infrastructure improvement and community development projects across the state that serve a public purpose. The bipartisan 2025-27 Biennial Budget continued support for the program with another $50 million investment, and last week, Gov. Evers announced 71 projects that would receive this $50 million in support. From hospitals, fire, and EMS to museums, libraries, and galleries, these projects include local infrastructure improvements and community development projects that expand essential resources, bolster local economies, and create jobs in communities across the state.
"Our Non-State Grant Program has been a tremendous asset to local communities since we created it in the 2023-25 budget, and it's great to see this funding receive support from the commission so we can get these funds out the door to ensure our communities can continue to grow and thrive," said Gov. Evers. "From community development efforts like upgrading our libraries, community centers, veterans housing, and investing in healthcare and emergency service infrastructure to maintaining state-run facilities and recreational spaces, all of the projects approved today are critical assets to keeping state operations humming along for residents and visitors alike."
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, and the first round of grant awards provided by the program was announced in October 2024.
The original $50 million Non-State Grant Program came in addition to another $36.6 million investment by Gov. Evers using the state's federal 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.
As highlighted by Gov. Evers last week, the 71 Non-State Grant Program projects approved by the State Building Commission include:
Community Centers and Housing:
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$900,000 to GiGi's Playhouse-Madison for the GiGi's Playhouse Capital Project;
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$200,000 to the Village of Oregon for the Oregon Area Senior Center and Community Gymnasium building project;
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$2 million to The Salvation Army of Dane County for The Salvation Army of Dane County Purpose-Built Shelter for Women and Families;
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$900,000 to Kinship MKE Inc. d/b/a Kinship Community Food Center for the Building a Place for Kinship project;
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$2 million to United Community Center for the UCC Burnham Early Learning Academy;
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$75,900 to the Veterans 1st of NEW Inc. for the Veterans 1st of NEW Village;
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$86,500 to ADVOCAP Inc. for the ADVOCAP Childcare Incubator;
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$800,000 to Fox Cities Sports Development Inc. for the Court Expansion of the Community First Champion Center;
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$800,000 to Badgerland After School Enrichment Program Inc. for the BASE Future Home Community Center;
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$2 million to First 5 Fox Valley Inc. for the new Together for Families: Family Resource Center;
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$400,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Barron County for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Barron County's New Clubhouse for Kids; and
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$2 million to the St. Croix Valley Food Bank for the Permanent Food Bank Facility.
Public Facilities:
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$142,000 to Bayfield County for the Bayfield County Facilities Preservation;
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$800,000 to the city of New Richmond for the New Richmond Community Library;
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$157,500 to Sauk County Land Resources and Environment for the Sauk County Farm Facilities;
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$265,000 to the town of Milton, Rock County, for the New Joint Town Hall - Police Department - Municipal Court Building;
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$376,000 to the Brown County Library for the new branch library in Ashwaubenon;
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$187,000 to the Salem School District for the Salem School District Capital Repair and Water Quality Project;
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$800,000 to Chilton Public Library for the Chilton Broadband-Enabled Library & Community Facility;
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$238,000 to the Mukwonago Community Library for the Building Belonging: Mukwonago Community Library's Investment in Where Our Community Gathers and Connects;
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$800,000 to the city of Delavan for the Rooted in Our Community, Growing for the Future: Aram Public Library Expansion & Renovation project;
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$560,000 to Burlington Library Foundation Inc. for the Our Community Library - Thinking Outside the Books;
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$750,000 to the Beloit Public Library for the Discovery PLAYce at the Beloit Public Library;
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$1.2 million to the Madison Public Library for the new Imagination Center at Reindahl Park;
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$2 million to the city of Racine for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center; and
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$250,000 to Kenosha County Planning and Development for the Pike River South Branch Restoration Project.
Economic Development and Workforce Training:
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$1.8 million to Neu-Life Community Development for the NeuVue Project;
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$1 million to Mount Mary University Inc. for The Next Generation of Care: Empowering Nurses Through Innovation and Integration;
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$468,900 to Wello Inc. for the Cultivating Community: Advancing Economic Development and Sustainability Moving Wisconsin's Food System Forward for the Future project;
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$2 million to the Wisconsin Rural Water Association for the National Water College Field Training Center;
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$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
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$600,000 to Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council Inc. for the WDEOC Housing & Family Services and Day Resource Center.
Healthcare and Emergency Services:
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$200,000 to Aspirus Health for the Aspirus Merrill Hospital Inpatient Bed Addition;
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$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;
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$1.2 million to the city of Green Bay for the Green Bay Fire Station Flats Apartments;
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$800,000 to the city of Marshfield for the city of Marshfield police department relocation project;
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$224,000 to the town of Newton for the new town of Newton Fire & EMS facility;
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$900,000 to Aspirus Health for the Aspirus Chippewa Falls Emergency Department;
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$252,000 to the town of Shelby for the relocation and upgrade of the Shelby Fire Station;
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$145,000 to the Mile Bluff Medical Center for upgrades to the Mile Bluff Medical Center - MRI and Imaging Suite;
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$330,000 to the Rock River Community Clinic Inc. for the Moving Upstream: 2025-2026 Capital Campaign for Rock River Community Clinic;
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$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;
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$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;
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$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;
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$800,000 to Mayville EMS for the Mayville EMS and Mayville Training Center New Building;
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$800,000 to the city of Prairie du Chien for the Prairie du Chien Public Safety Center; and
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$800,000 to the city of Hartford for the Hartford Fire Station 2.
Arts, Culture, and Recreation:
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$500,000 to Olbrich Botanical Gardens to replace The Bolz Conservatory's windows;
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$200,000 to the city of Middleton Parks & Recreation for the new Parisi Park Shelter;
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$100,000 to the Historic Haymarket Milwaukee for the transformation of the Milwaukee Public Museum into the Nature & Culture Museum of Wisconsin;
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$2 million to the Milwaukee Domes Alliance for The Domes: Reimagined project;
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$291,201 to the Waupaca Community Arts Board for the Waupaca Community Arts Hub;
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$137,023 to the Building for Kids Children's Museum for the Building for Kids Children's Museum Strategic Expansion Project;
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Nearly $1.1 million to the Performing Arts Foundation Inc. for The Grand Theater - Second Century Project;
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$975,593 to the Wisconsin Maritime Museum for the Maritime Heritage Center Revitalization Project;
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$168,700 to On Broadway Inc. for the Green Bay Public Market;
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$600,000 to Colfax Railroad Museum Inc. for the Colfax Railroad Museum;
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$106,000 to Northwest Passage LTD for the Community Commons at Northwest Passage Gallery;
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$192,500 to Brodhead Jaycees for the revitalization of the Brodhead Community Splash Pad & Park;
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$50,000 to Mineral Point Opera House Inc. for the Mineral Point Opera House Exterior Preservation - Masonry & Roof Work;
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$285,000 to the American Players Theatre for the American Players Theatre "Seats and Storage" Infrastructure Project;
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$700,000 to the Yerkes Future Foundation for the Play/Space & Cosmic Family Pavilion;
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$26,000 to Walworth County for the restoration of the Webster House;
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$108,000 to the Swiss Center of North America for the New Glarus Glarner Community Complex;
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$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;
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$116,000 to the Sauk Prairie School District for the modernization of the River Arts Center;
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$56,000 to the Beloit Historical Society for the Beloit Historical Society Parking Lot Reconstruction Project;
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$189,000 to the Oconomowoc Historical Society Inc. for the Rooted in History, Reaching for the Future project;
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$84,000 to Richland County Performing Arts Council Inc. for the City Auditorium Renovation Project;
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$244,000 to Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts for the ACCESS Initiative: Advancing Capacity, Community, Efficiency, Safety, and Sustainability; and
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$1 million to the city of Shullsburg for the revitalization of the Badger Mine & Museum.
In addition to the Non-State Grant Program projects, the State Building Commission also approved:
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The sale of the State Human Services Building at 1 West Wilson Street in Madison as part of Governor Evers' Vision 2030 Plan, reducing the state's billable office space by 92,000 square feet and saving taxpayers an estimated over $194 million in repairs required to bring the facility up to modern safety and operational standards;
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Approval of the Fiber and Cable Upgrades project at the State Capitol, modernizing critical communications infrastructure and delivering reliable, high-capacity, multi-carrier cellular service to support daily operations and enhance connectivity for staff and visitors;
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Construction of several key projects for the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs, including a new fire suppression system at the Madison Army Aviation Support Facility 2 to improve life safety and meet current code requirements, a new Motor Vehicle Storage Building at the Clintonville Readiness Center to protect valuable equipment and strengthen operational readiness for the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and a new Black River Falls Readiness Center that will replace an outdated and undersized facility with a modern, fully accessible training and operational hub supporting military readiness, recruitment, and long-term mission needs;
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Approval of the Phase V Expansion at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, increasing burial capacity and ensuring the state can continue to honor veterans and their families with dignity for years to come;
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Building Trust Funds design releases for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to prepare preliminary plans and specifications for two projects, including statewide trail accessibility upgrades across multiple parks to expand outdoor access for visitors of all abilities, and replacement of the Friendship Fire Response Ranger Station to strengthen emergency response capabilities and support critical public safety operations;
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The release of funding to support the redevelopment of the Norskedalen Nature and Heritage Center's Thrunegaarden property in Coon Valley, enhancing public access, expanding educational opportunities, and preserving the site's cultural and historical significance for future generations. Funding for this project was approved in the 2013-15 Biennial Budget;
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Approval of the Trainer Natural Resources Greenhouse Renovation at the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Stevens Point through the 2025-27 Minor Facilities Renewal Program, addressing critical structural deficiencies and restoring a safe, modern research environment that supports academic programs and hands-on learning;
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Construction of the Kronshage-Jorns-Humphrey Residence Halls additions and renovations project at UW-Madison, delivering modernized, accessible student housing with upgraded building systems that improve safety, functionality, and the overall student living experience; and
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Approval of 20 maintenance and repair projects across 12 counties for the Wisconsin Departments of Administration, Health Services, Historical Society, Military Affairs, Natural Resources, Transportation, State Fair Park, and the UW System, addressing critical infrastructure needs, improving facility reliability, and protecting public assets across Wisconsin.
The Building Commission is chaired by Governor Evers and made up of the following members:
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State Senator Brad Pfaff;
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State Senator Mary Felzkowski;
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State Senator André Jacque;
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State Representative Jill Billings;
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State Representative Rob Swearingen;
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State Representative Robert Wittke; and
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Citizen Member Barb Worcester.
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