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: Audrey Kratz, Legal Intern, and Benjamin Kranner, Staff Analyst April 1, 2024
2023 Wisconsin Act 169
[2023 Senate Bill 810]
Opportunities and Events Grant
Program for WEDC
BACKGROUND
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is a semi-public entity created to assist
business development in Wisconsin through the use of grants, loans, and tax credits.
2023 WISCONSIN ACT 169
2023 Wisconsin Act 169 requires WEDC to establish and administer an economic development
program for the purpose of attracting major opportunities and events to Wisconsin.
1
WEDC is directed
to do the following:
Create an application for eligible applicants
2
which must include an estimate of projected direct and
indirect economic benefits, as well as a related cost-benefit analysis for the opportunity or event.
Award grants to eligible applicants for major opportunities or events that will draw national
exposure and drive economic development and visitors to this state.
Submit an annual report to the Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) that includes a description of
each grant awarded.
WEDC may only award a grant to an eligible applicant if the applicant has secured funding from
nonstate sources equal to the amount of the proposed grant.
Eligible applicants may use grant funds to bid against other states or jurisdictions outside Wisconsin to
attract an opportunity or event to Wisconsin. Eligible applicants may also use grant funds to host an
opportunity that the eligible applicant secured through a competitive bid against other states or
jurisdictions outside Wisconsin. In addition, eligible applicants must spend all grant money received
from WEDC to attract or host, or both, a major opportunity or event that is open to the public.
The act also specifies WEDC may consult with the Department of Tourism to implement the grant
program.
Effective date: March 23, 2024
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
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1
2023 Wisconsin Act 169 does not appropriate any funds for the purposes of the new grant program. However, 2023
Wisconsin Act 19, the 2023-25 biennial budget act, included an appropriation to JCF to provide supplemental funding
to a variety of agencies. This appropriation included $10 million for an opportunity attraction and promotion fund.
Further information on the JCF appropriation for agency supplements is available on page 235 of Legislative Fiscal
Bureau, Summary of Provisions: 2023 Wisconsin Act 19 (July 2023).
2
“Eligible applicant” is defined by the act to include any of the following in Wisconsin: (a) a city, village, town, or
county; (b) an American Indian tribe or band in this state; (c) an area visitor and convention bureau; (d) a business
improvement district; or (e) a private entity.