Businesses and Non-Profits – Don’t Miss Out: Grant Deadlines Loom for Venues, Sports Teams, Summer Camps and More

Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the $1.9 trillion stimulus package signed last March, continue to funnel outward, making additional assistance available for Wisconsin communities and businesses struggling to recover from the pandemic.
The following programs are accepting grant applications:
Event Venue Assistance Grants:
- Eligibility This program is focused on event venues struggling due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Eligible venues include those with ticketed events such as plays and concerts, as well as those hosting non-ticketed events such as weddings and corporate parties.
- Funds Available: The State intends to award up to $10 million in grants, with each recipient eligible to receive up to $200,000.
- Deadline: Applications are due Friday, October 15th at 2:00 pm.
- More information: Additional information, including application instructions and the application itself, is available on the program’s website. Questions can also be directed via email to eventvenueassistance@wisconsin.gov.
Live Event Small Business Assistance Grants:
- Eligibility This program is focused on those small businesses who generate at least half of their revenue by supplying goods and services to support live event venues who host such events as are not eligible for this pot of money. (See Event Venue Assistance Grants above.).
- Funds Available: The State intends to award up to $12 million in grants, with each recipient eligible to receive up to $200,000.
- Deadline: Applications are due Friday, October 15th at 2:00 pm.
- More information: Find further details on the program’s website or by emailing liveeventsmallbusinessassistance@wisconsin.gov.
Movie Theater Assistance Grants:
- Eligibility This program is focused on movie theaters that opened for operation prior to January of 2020 and suffered economic loss due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Funds Available: The State intends to award up to $11.25 million in grants, with each recipient eligible to receive up to $15,000.
- Deadline: Applications are due Friday, October 15th at 2:00 pm.
- More information: Find further details on the program’s website or by emailing movietheaterassistance@wisconsin.gov.
Minor League Sports Teams Assistance Grants:
- Eligibility This program is focused on Wisconsin-based minor league sports teams. The team must charge admission to spectators and prove attendance numbers between 10,000 and 30,000 during 2019.
- Funds Available: The State intends to award up to $2.8 million in grants, with each recipient eligible to receive up to $200,000.
- Deadline: Applications are due Friday, October 15th at 2:00 pm.
- More information: Find further details on the program’s website or by emailing minorleaguesportsassistance@wisconsin.gov.
Summer Camp Assistance Grants:
- Eligibility This program is focused on Wisconsin-based summer camps. Camps must be licensed through the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. They also must operate for a minimum of 21 days during the period of June 1st through August 31st.
- Funds Available: The State intends to award up to $8 million in grants, with each recipient eligible to receive up to $50,000.
- Deadline: Applications are due Friday, October 15th at 2:00 pm.
- More information: Find further details on the program’s website or by emailing summercampassistance@wisconsin.gov.
Workforce Innovation Grant Program:
- Eligibility This program is focused on for-profit and nonprofit regional organizations aiming to solve workforce challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. Initiatives include but are not limited to: training for in-demand jobs, career counseling services, access to transit and broadband, and childcare and other supportive services.
- Funds Available: Each recipient is eligible to receive up to $10 million.
- Deadline: Applications for the first round of funding are due Friday, October 25th at 5:00 pm. Details regarding Round 2 will be made available in 2022.
- More information: Find further details as well as an application ‘how-to’ webinar on the program’s website or by emailing workforceinnovation@wedc.org.
Neighborhood Investments Fund:
- Eligibility: This program is focused on the residents of communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic and aims to fund investments from local and Tribal governments directed toward long-term benefits — for example, significant capital investments toward “shovel-ready” projects such as building construction.
- Funds Available: The State intends to award up to $200 million in grants.
- Deadline: Applications are due Thursday, November 4th by 2:00 pm.
- Note on eligibility: The eligible expenses incurred period for this program is March 3, 2021 to December 31, 2024.
- More information: There is a webinar tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, October 12th. Find further details on the program’s website or by emailing neighborhoodinvestmentfundprogram@wisconsin.
Mainstreet Bounceback Grants:
- Eligibility This program is focused on businesses that lease or purchase an existing vacant commercial property between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022 in downtown areas or commercial corridors. Funds can go toward leases or mortgages, or related operational and other business costs.
- Funds Available: Each recipient is eligible to receive up to $10,000.
- Deadline:
- More information: For more details, visit the program’s website and submit your business’ information.