MAY 2023
Beth Haskovec 

Director’s message

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

Making rural transportation more accessible

Transportation is a challenge for many Wisconsin residents, especially those who live in rural parts of the state.
 
The lack of public transit can limit access to health care, the ability of workers to find a job and keep it, and the ride to a hardware store or supermarket to take care of essential errands. This month, the Office of Rural Prosperity would like to highlight some of the resources, plans, guides, and toolkits that can help rural communities address their transportation needs. 
  1. The federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, approved in late 2021, and the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 both include significant investments that impact rural roadways, improve public safety, and support climate resiliency. 
  2. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation helps navigate various funding options for bridges, roads, and alternative transportation in Wisconsin, and identifies opportunities for communities to apply for competitive grants from the federal government. 
  3. Trails help to connect rural Wisconsin and provide a boost to the local economy. The addition of bike and multipurpose trails that physically connect rural towns is making it easier for more people to visit rural communities. Bicycling contributes more than $1 billion to Wisconsin’s economy every year through direct and indirect spending. Developing trails requires a great deal of cross-community cooperation, so, in many areas, enterprising nonprofits have organized to expand bike trails further. These trails are important not just to tourists but to anyone who lives in rural areas or may want to move there at some point—in short, to the current and future prosperity of a community. 
  4. Ride-sharing has also proven to be a reliable solution to address rural transportation gaps. 
When communities collaborate, they can develop solutions that might not be possible on an individual basis. For example, residents of rural, hilly southwest Wisconsin banded together to establish a public transportation system that would provide affordable rides to work, school, and medical appointments. The Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit – RideSMRT bus system is an innovative approach to rural transportation in the western part of the state. This four-county, daily commuter bus service has been operating since December 2012. It could serve as a model for other transit deserts in rural Wisconsin.
RURAL TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES
Transportation issues impact residents across Wisconsin but affect rural areas of our state in unique ways. We've gathered more than 20 resources from the categories listed below. These resources are available to rural Wisconsin communities as they explore their best opportunities to meet the transportation needs of their residents.
  • Agencies and Organizations
  • Rideshare and other programs
  • Grant Programs: Roads/Transportation/Electric Vehicles 
  • Harbor Resources
  • Bike and Pedestrian Trail Resources
READ MORE
OTHER RESOURCES OF INTEREST
Broadband Technical Assistance Grant 
This grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training and supports the development and expansion of broadband cooperatives. 
Connection and well-being survey
Mental Health America is collecting survey responses to better understand how individuals connect with themselves, with others, and with nature. 
Water and Waste Disposal Grant and Loan Program
This USDA program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and stormwater drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas.
Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program
USDA is making $5.8 million in grants available under the Rural Cooperative Development Grant program to start, enhance, or expand rural cooperatives and other mutually owned businesses that will help improve economic conditions in rural areas.
Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program
Designed to support the priorities of Tribal Nations in meeting the needs of traditional harvesting methods and indigenous animals, this USDA grant funds projects that will restore local indigenous food systems, increase the resilience of their supply chains, or expand capacity of programs providing culturally appropriate foods and food security to tribal communities.
Rural Housing Preservation Grant
This program provides grant funds to low-income homeowners to repair and rehabilitate their homes in rural areas. In addition, the program assists rental property owners and cooperative housing complexes in repairing and rehabilitating their units if they agree to make the units available to low-income persons.
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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