JUNE 2023

Director’s message

Beth Haskovec
Director, Office of Rural Prosperity
beth.haskovec@wedc.org

Connecting through arts and culture

Rural communities thrive when residents and tourists connect with the spaces, events, and creative assets that make each community unique.

The Rural Voices for Prosperity report issued by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Rural Prosperity recognized the importance of placemaking in rural Wisconsin.

“Arts, culture and special place-based attributes attract and retain residents, helping to sustain community viability. From Door County to the Driftless Area, Bayfield to Darlington, or any of the unique places in between, the arts, culture, and character of rural Wisconsin are critical to attracting new residents, supporting local economies, and adding tax revenues into local and state coffers,” the report states.

This month’s newsletter features grants, toolkits, and resources that help rural communities navigate creative placemaking.

Create Wisconsin curated stories highlighting the many ways that rural Wisconsin communities embed arts and culture into entrepreneurship programs, city planning, and tourism strategies from Mineral Point to the Chequamegon Bay. Creativity can strike a spark for innovation and uncover fresh solutions to long-standing community issues.

One recommendation in the Rural Voices for Prosperity report is to invest strategically in community-driven art and culture to reap dividends for both rural and state economies.

Create Wisconsin and its partners are proposing the “Rural Wisconsin Creative Economy Grant Program” to be administered by the Wisconsin Arts Board. This program would provide much-needed support to economic development agencies, promotional organizations, and local governments for cultural planning and creative economic development programs. Eligible projects will serve the rural creative economy and creative industries through:

Jobs, business creation and capacity-building
Workforce training and development
Community and sector planning, development and engagement
Products or services with artistic, cultural, creative, or aesthetic qualities

For more information about the Rural Wisconsin Creative Economy Grant Program and how investing in the creative economy supports rural development, visit Create Wisconsin's Advocacy briefings.

Many of us will be exploring the state this summer and will enjoy artisan cheesemakers, distinctive gift shops, and crowd-pleasing events that celebrate the rich history and culture of rural Wisconsin.

Happy explorations!

PLACEMAKING IN WISCONSIN

PLACEMAKING RESOURCES
Placemaking is an economic development strategy that utilizes a local community’s assets, inspiration, and potential with the intention of creating public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness, and well-being.

Read more about placemaking resources, grant opportunities, and links to reads and listens.

PLACEMAKING STORIES
From the shores of Lake Superior to the Driftless area in southwest Wisconsin, rural communities are creating opportunities that promote the well-being of their residents and visitors alike.

Read more about these communities and the many partnerships developed over the years.

OTHER GRANTS AND RESOURCES

Joint Effort Marketing (JEM) Grant Program
The JEM Grant Program offers funding to make a promotion or an event come to life. The grant reimburses Wisconsin nonprofits for qualified promotional costs. There are five categories of JEM grants. Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis

Wisconsin Farmer Wellness Program
Launched in 2020, the Wisconsin Farmer Wellness Program addresses the barriers—such as affordability, accessibility, acceptability, and awareness—that prevent farmers from obtaining mental health assistance. Through this program farmers can learn about available resources and services designed to reduce the negative impacts of farm-related stressors.

Wildlife Crossing Program
The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program is a competitive grant program to reduce wildlife vehicle collisions while improving habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species.

Community Facilities Grant and Loan Program
This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as one that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial, or business undertakings. Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Safe Drinking Water Loan Program
This program provides financial assistance to municipalities for drinking water infrastructure projects. Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Need assistance with grants or other rural projects? Get in touch with us.

Interested in hearing more from us?

We're always adding to our resource directory, covering new initiatives and sharing success stories from around the state.

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