Welcome to the Grants for Local Projects program, an initiative dedicated to supporting organizations in their pursuit of construction projects with a statewide public purpose. We are excited to collaborate with you to create a positive impact on communities across Wisconsin.
The program was continued by 2025 Wisconsin Act 15, which provides:
- Purpose: The program offers funding to organizations for capital infrastructure projects that benefit the broader public.
- Eligible Organizations: Entities eligible for grants are non-state organizations that are not a for-profit entity. Examples of eligible organizations include local governments and nonprofits.
- Match Requirement: To be eligible for a grant, organizations must have funding in hand from nonstate revenue sources covering at least half of the total project cost at the time of application.
- Accountability: The state will retain an ownership interest in the project equivalent to the grant amount to ensure it fulfills its public purpose. As such, if a grant-funded project deviates from its public purpose, the amount can be recouped. To implement this, the ownership interest will take the form of a warranty deed, and a 20-year land use restriction agreement (LURA) will be recorded with the county register of deeds.
Due to anticipated high demand, project awards will be capped at $2 million.
The Department of Administration (DOA) will review applications and submit a recommended award package to the State Building Commission for its approval.
Upon award and a fully executed grant agreement and land use restriction agreement (LURA), the DOA will disburse the grant funds as reimbursements for eligible expenses associated with the project.