Wisconsin Legislative Council
ACT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Prepared by: Dan Schmidt, Deputy Director April 1, 2024
2023 Wisconsin Act 250
[2023 Senate Bill 518]
University of Wisconsin Branch
Campus Redevelopment Grants
PRIOR LAW
Prior law did not contain provisions for the redevelopment of branch campuses of the University of
Wisconsin System (UWS).
2023 WISCONSIN ACT 250
2023 Wisconsin Act 250 establishes a branch campus redevelopment grant program administered by
the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and appropriates $20,000,000 to fund the
grants. For the purposes of the act, a “branch campus” means any of the former college campuses that
were partnered with a university in the UWS restructuring plan approved by the Higher Learning
Commission on or about June 28, 2018, and would include the following:
UW-Barron County.
UW-Manitowoc.
UW-Marinette.
UW-Sheboygan.
UW-Washington County.
UW-Waukesha.
UW-Fond du Lac.
UW-Fox Valley.
UW-Baraboo/Sauk County.
UW-Richland.
UW-Marathon County.
UW-Marshfield/Wood County.
UW-Rock County.
Under the act, WEDC must award grants to political subdivisions
1
for costs, including planning costs
2
and demolition costs, associated with the redevelopment of buildings or other sites owned by the
political subdivision on a branch campus or former branch campus. The grants may be used to fund
1
“Political subdivision” means a city, village, town, or county.
2
“Planning costs” include, among other expenses, expenses incurred in connection with hiring consultants, site
planning, viability studies, and environmental compliance or remediation activities. - 2 -
activities that contribute to the overall economic improvement and enhancement of the community.
Activities authorized under the act include, among others, those that facilitate job creation, workforce
development, small business support, housing, or public infrastructure improvement.
WEDC may not award a grant under the act unless the political subdivision applying for the grant
submits community letters of support for the grant to WEDC and the political subdivision provides
funding from local sources. A grant awarded under the provisions of the act may not exceed
$2,000,000.
Finally, the act requires a political subdivision that receives a redevelopment grant to submit a report to
WEDC and the Legislature that contains the name of the grant recipient, the amount of the grant
awarded, and a detailed description of how the grant funds were spent.
The act requires WEDC to automatically award grants to Richland County, Fond du Lac County,
Washington County, and Marinette County, provided these counties satisfy the general requirements
listed above.
Effective date: March 31, 2023
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
DWS:jal