http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/covid-19-hospital-icu-s5.jpgNew Racine Community Health Center will serve as a neighborhood resource for low-income families, underinsured or uninsured individuals, and historically underserved communities.

Roads must meet minimum design standards of a 16-foot surface width and a 20-foot roadway width, and be located within county forests.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on Thursday, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), announced that more than $300,000 in state funds through the County Forest Road Aids program will help 24 Wisconsin counties maintain and improve public roads in county forests across the state.  

“In just three years, we’ve made major headway on fixing our state’s roads and bridges, having already improved more than 1,770 miles of highways and more than 1,250 bridges, and it is critical for our growth as a state that we continue to invest in our state’s transportation infrastructure,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m glad to approve these funds because our county forest roads are a key part of this investment and our future. Our state takes immense pride in our abundant natural resources and these funds are an important tool in ensuring that folks are able to readily access our state’s forests and that communities have the resources to support the critical infrastructure needed to keep them accessible.”  

Administered by WisDOT, the County Forest Road Aids program aims to defray county costs for the improvement and maintenance of public roads within county forests. Funding from fiscal year 2022 will help improve more than 900 miles of public roads within county forests. For example, Marinette County, with 234 miles of eligible county forest roads, will receive the largest payment of $82,134.   

“County forests provide great recreational opportunities across Wisconsin, and maintaining these roads not only helps tourism, but promotes industry and quality of life,” said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson. “Thank you to the communities who partner with us to make good investments in our infrastructure.”  

To qualify for the state funding, roads must meet minimum design standards of a 16-foot surface width and a 20-foot roadway width, be located within county forests, be open and used for travel, and cannot be town roads, county, or state highways.   

County Forest Road Aids are separate from the larger General Transportation Aids (GTA) program, and county forest roads are not eligible to receive General Transportation Aid.

A list of counties and the amount of County Forest Road Aids being distributed is available here.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/gb-apartments-s450.jpgRegional housing awards will help low- and moderate-income families purchase or repair homes.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/women-health-services1-s5.jpgHealthcare centers, free clinics, and others providing critical care have been hit hard during the pandemic, and program will help fill the gaps and build back stronger for the future.

HealthNet of Rock County to expand their services at a new building on Franklin Street, other critical healthcare services funded.

JANESVILLE — Gov. Tony Evers announced on Wednesday more than $4 million from the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program has been awarded to support expanding access to quality healthcare services in the Janesville and Edgerton communities. 

“Making sure that critical healthcare services—from dental care to orthopedics to mental healthcare—are accessible to families and individuals in every zip code is essential to ensuring we are building healthier communities across our state for years to come,” said Gov. Evers. “So, I am glad to be awarding these funds today to support two great projects in the Janesville and Edgerton communities that will do just that with new facilities that will provide central hubs for patients to receive care close to home.”

Of the more than $4 million investment announced today, more than $1.1 million will be going to HealthNet of Rock County to expand their services at a new building on Franklin Street. This new facility will centralize services to reduce transportation burdens on patients, while almost doubling HealthNet’s capacity to provide care to uninsured individuals and triple the dental clinic capacity, as well as expand care for women and low-income individuals. Additionally, today, more than $3.8 million was awarded to Edgerton Hospital and Health Services to support a new facility in a more central location for patients. This new facility will increase access to mental healthcare for seniors and general mental healthcare, pain management resources, pediatric services, and orthopedics. 

Part of a more than $285 million investment allocated by the governor for community capital projects statewide, the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program was first announced in August 2021, alongside the Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Program awarded last week. 

The Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), with grants ranging in size from $158,000 to a maximum of $20 million. Applications opened on Oct. 26, 2021, and closed on Nov. 30, 2021. Additional information can be found on the program website. Recipients of the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program will be announced on a rolling basis throughout this week. A full list of grant awardees will be released later today. 

Wisconsinites can visit BadgerBounceback.wi.gov to view pandemic-related assistance information for families, farmers, businesses, organizations, and communities, as well as the latest data and success stories about how COVID-relief investments are making a difference across the state. For updates on other recovery-related grant opportunities, sign up for the Badger Bounceback update list.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vets-gi-bill-s432.jpgMilitary medical personnel may use their medical skills and training in the community and active-duty service members, their spouses and children, are allowed in-state tuition for higher education.

Assembly Democrats introduce package to give local law enforcement the funding and statutory changes they need to ensure safer neighborhoods.

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Democrats continue to advance common-sense policies to support stronger and safer communities with the recent introduction of Attorney General Josh Kaul’s Safer Wisconsin package by Assembly Democrats.

Safer Wisconsin is a comprehensive set of proposals to invest in a broad array of public safety programs. With the pandemic having strained already under-resourced local services, now is the time to support local communities with the funding and statutory changes they need to ensure safer neighborhoods.

Attorney General Kaul’s Safer Wisconsin package would ensure that local law enforcement has the resources to:

1. Strengthen community trust and prevent crime. Safer Wisconsin proposes significant investments in community policing and prosecution, violence prevention programs, victim services, and re-entry programs that reduce recidivism. It also would provide additional funding for law enforcement training and ongoing state funding for school safety.
2. Keep guns out of the hands of people who’ve been shown to be dangerous. Safer Wisconsin would tackle gun violence by expanding background checks, prohibiting ghost guns, increasing the felony classification for repeat felon-in-possession and straw purchasing offenses, and authorizing judges to issue extreme risk protection orders.
3. Addressing substance use disorders and mental health crises. Safer Wisconsin would expand treatment and diversion programs, expand substance use disorder treatment in prisons and jails, provide ongoing funding for regional drug prosecutors, and invest in crisis response teams.
4. Holding offenders accountable. Safer Wisconsin makes reforms to ensure that sexual assault kits are submitted to the state crime labs, as well as implements new initatives such as the creation of a hate crime hotline. It would also invest in violent crime investigators and prosecutors at DOJ, and create a grant program to support officer recruitment and retention programs.

“Wisconsin’s families deserve safe and strong neighborhoods, and that’s the vision of Attorney General Kaul’s Safer Wisconsin,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler. “While Republicans obstruct and divide in an attempt to score political points, Democrats are working to deliver common-sense solutions and address the priorities Wisconsinites care about. We applaud Attorney General Kaul’s work to deliver Safer Wisconsin, and we urge Robin Vos and Republican politicians in the Legislature to bring the Assembly back into session to take up these much-needed reforms – there’s just too much work left to be done before anyone takes a vacation.”

Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls Critical Access Hospital targeted for transformational upgrades to modernize the facility and enhance the quality of care for patients.

PARK FALLS — Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday $20 million from the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program will support facility upgrades and modernization at the Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls, which is a critical access hospital of Marshfield Clinic Health System, to expand access to quality healthcare for rural communities that have been historically underserved. 

“This healthcare facility bridges an important gap in healthcare access in the Park Falls community, and they would not be able to continue to provide care without some critically needed upgrades and modernization,” said Gov. Evers. “This investment will allow them to keep providing high-quality care in the community, and I am glad to support this project today and to continue supporting the health and well-being of folks in the Park Falls area.”

The Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls Critical Access Hospital was built in 1966, and this $20 million investment will support substantial and transformational upgrades to modernize the facility and enhance the quality of care for patients. This facility also bridges an important gap in healthcare coverage in rural Wisconsin as the next closest medical facility is more than an hour away, and these funds will allow the facility to stay open to continue to serve the community and bridge this gap, while keeping jobs in the area and helping to attract and retain new medical professionals. 

Part of a more than $285 million investment allocated by the governor for community capital projects statewide, the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program was first announced in August 2021, alongside the Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Program awarded last week. Park Falls also received more than $5.6 million through the Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Program for the construction of a new YMCA facility in the community. 

The Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), with grants ranging in size from $158,000 to a maximum of $20 million. Applications opened on Oct. 26, 2021, and closed on Nov. 30, 2021. Additional information can be found on the program website. Recipients of the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program will be announced on a rolling basis throughout this week. A full list of grant awardees will be released later today. 

Wisconsinites can visit BadgerBounceback.wi.gov to view pandemic-related assistance information for families, farmers, businesses, organizations, and communities, as well as the latest data and success stories about how COVID-relief investments are making a difference across the state. For updates on other recovery-related grant opportunities, sign up for the Badger Bounceback update list.

Amendment to SB 361 to regulate and address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Wisconsin’s groundwater system struck down by Republican votes.

Madison, WI – Tuesday during Senate session, Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) introduced for consideration Senate Bill 361, legislation would regulate and address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Wisconsin’s groundwater system. The amendment was struck down.

Senator Melissa Agard released the following statement:

“Having access to clean, usable water is a human right.

“Unfortunately, water in Wisconsin is contaminated with PFAS—harmful chemicals that can have significant adverse health effects in people, from certain types of cancers to infertility and development delays in children. No corner of Wisconsin is untouched by PFAS. As recently as last week, the drinking water in Wausau tested above our recommended state standards for these forever chemicals.

“Communities all across our state are being harmed—from Marinette and Wausau to La Crosse and Madison, we are facing a public health crisis from a lack of clean water. My Republican colleagues have had numerous opportunities to do the right thing and take action for clean water. Yet again today, they have failed to help Wisconsinites with one of the most pressing issues our state is facing right now as a collective.

“Wisconsin has the potential to be the gold standard for water quality, and we need real leadership to take a stand. Clean water should not be a partisan issue—no family should have unsafe drinking water or be exposed to health-hazardous chemicals. We cannot wait another session to address something as fundamental as clean water.”

New clinic in Elroy will expand access to quality healthcare in rural community

HILLSBORO — Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday more than $6 million from the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program will support a new clinic in Elroy to expand access to quality healthcare for rural communities that have been historically underserved. 

“As the COVID-19 pandemic only further highlighted, getting access to high-quality healthcare can be a challenge, especially in rural areas of the state where patients have to travel farther for care,” said Gov. Evers. “Thanks to great collaboration between Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinics and the local Elroy community, folks in Elroy won’t have to travel very far. The new clinic in Elroy will bridge an important gap in rural healthcare access, providing a new and improved space for high-quality care in the community and I am glad to support this project with these critical grant funds.”

Of the more than $6 million announced Tuesday, more than $2.1 million has been awarded to the city of Elroy to make critical infrastructure improvements to the downtown area to support the construction of the new clinic, including street and utility work in the area. The remaining more than $4 million has been awarded to Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinics for the construction of the new clinic facility. This new facility will provide pharmacy services, chiropractic services, and behavioral healthcare, as well as regular exams and procedures with nine new exam rooms, a lab, and a procedure room. 

Part of a more than $285 million investment allocated by the governor for community capital projects statewide, the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program was first announced in August 2021, alongside the Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Program awarded last week. 

The Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), with grants ranging in size from $158,000 to a maximum of $20 million. Applications opened on Oct. 26, 2021, and closed on Nov. 30, 2021. Additional information can be found on the program website. Recipients of the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program will be announced on a rolling basis throughout this week. A full list of grant awardees will be released in the coming days. 

Wisconsinites can visit BadgerBounceback.wi.gov to view pandemic-related assistance information for families, farmers, businesses, organizations, and communities, as well as the latest data and success stories about how COVID-relief investments are making a difference across the state. For updates on other recovery-related grant opportunities, sign up for the Badger Bounceback update list.