A dance event this past October at The Barn at Mirror Lake in Mondovi. The venue is among 204 across Wisconsin that will receive ARPA-funded grants. | Facebook
A dance event this past October at The Barn at Mirror Lake in Mondovi. The venue is among 204 across Wisconsin that will receive ARPA-funded grants. | Facebook
Venues in La Crosse, Buffalo, Clark, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Jackson and Monroe counties are among more than 200 that will receive $27 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, Gov. Tony Evers said in a pre-Christmas announcement.
Evers' Dec. 21 press release announced the ARPA-funded event venue and live event small business assistance grants across Wisconsin. The money will be spread out to 204 venues as part of Evers' $140 million program through the state's tourism and entertainment industries.
"These businesses play a critical role in building a strong economy as they bring people together from all over the state and country for weddings, family reunions, business conferences and so much more," Evers said in the press release. "From Belmont to Washington Island, these funds will help bolster more than 200 small businesses and event venues across our state, which are an essential part of our communities and our state's entertainment industries."
The ARPA funds are being administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
The state's tourism industry is a major contributor to Wisconsin’s economy, generating more than $22 billion in pre-COVID 2019, according to a Milwaukee Business Journal story published in May of last year. BizTimes reported in June of 2019 that Wisconsin's "creative industries" contribute almost $10 billion to the state's economy each pre-COVID year.
The still ongoing pandemic has been very hard on Wisconsin, with the state losing an estimated $3.8 billion in tourism revenue in 2020, U.S. News reported this past June.
The Barn At Mirror Lake in Buffalo County will receive $4,118 in ARPA funds while On the Go Bus, active in Buffalo, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Marathon, Pepin and Pierce counties, will receive $146,845.
In Clark County, Clark County Agriculture Society will receive $35,414 and Hill Top Bar and Grill will receive $84,334. Trimedia, active in Clark, Marathon, Taylor and Wood counties, will receive $200,000. Novedades La Chiquita, active in Clark, Taylor and Wood counties, will receive $4,197.
In Eau Claire County, Blue Ox Music Festival, King Pin Management of Wisconsin, County Jam USA and The Florian Gardens will each receive $200,000, while Running-Light Productions will receive $20,600.
Jackson County Agriculture Society will receive $127,324.
In La Crosse County, Heider Center Arts Board will receive $6,283; La Crosse County Agricultural Society will receive $30,460; Jdlc Entertainment will receive $35,611; Concordia Aid Society will receive $63,620; Jdlc LLC will receive $72,347; Pump House Regional Arts Center will receive $93,400; La Crosse Performing Arts Center will receive $108,234 and Shenanigans of Wisconsin will receive $200,000.
Monroe County Agriculture Society and Warrens Cranberry Festival, also in Monroe County, each will receive $200,000.
A Cool Cave in Pierce County will receive $200,000.
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