Meet your neighbor:
Beth Haskovec

Beth Haskovec grew up in northeast Iowa, in the small town of Waukon, barely half an hour from the Wisconsin border.  But she got her start in Wisconsin and spent her first days here.

“I was born seven weeks early. My mother had to go to the hospital in La Crosse—the closest one that could handle the complicated birth,” she says.

Beth is the new ORP director. She joined the office in late June, taking over from Marcy West, who retired.

Along the way to her job at the ORP, Beth picked up a wealth of experience working with people and advocating for community development—in Wisconsin, around the U.S. and overseas.

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Open opportunities

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a $550 billion dollar package with funds available through fiscal year 2024. BIL is a once-in-a-lifetime funding opportunity that supports general infrastructure (e.g., bridges, roads and railroads) and workforce development. The law also contributes dollars to other important aspects of life, such as expanding access to broadband, removal of lead pipes, public safety, clean energy and a healthy environment. See fact sheet for more information on Wisconsin-specific opportunities.

The BIL includes special provisions for rural communities, and many programs have portions of grant funding reserved for rural communities. Ensuring that rural Wisconsin has access to BIL funding is a high priority of WEDC and ORP.

Ally Grants

The new Ally Grant pilot initiative aims to foster the development of new and/or emerging diverse-based nonprofit organizations that support diverse business communities, with a specific focus on organizations WEDC has not previously funded.

Wisconsin Cooperative Feasibility Grant

Additional review periods have been added for this program, which is designed to support the success of current and future cooperatives by allowing them to explore all facets of their business before large investments are made.

ReConnect Loan and Grant Program

This program provides loans and grants to cover the costs of construction, improvement or acquisition of the facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas.

Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund

This program is a federal-state partnership that provides communities with low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects.

Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants

This program helps private nonprofit organizations improve water treatment and waste disposal systems for people in rural areas.

Solid Waste Management Grants

This program aims to reduce water pollution in rural areas through improvements to solid waste management.

Meat Talent Development Initiatives

In partnership with the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has launched a new meat industry curriculum for Wisconsin agricultural education programs. To ensure the effectiveness of the curriculum, DATCP is seeking 6 to 10 agricultural education programs in Wisconsin to pilot this course before releasing it statewide in the spring. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact DATCP Meat and Livestock Specialist Jeff Swenson at jeffrey.swenson@wisconsin.gov.  

Coming soon

Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program

The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program will provide approximately $42.5 billion nationwide in funding to build broadband infrastructure. BEAD will support the deployment of primarily fiber internet technology that provides service of 100/20 Mbps to all households and residences in Wisconsin that lack access to 25/3 Mbps service.

Clean School Bus Program

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new Clean School Bus Program provides $5 billion over the next five years (FY22-26) to replace existing school buses with zero-emission and low-emission models.

Rural Energy for America Program

Through Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Loans and Grants, this program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.

Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund Grants

These grants provide funding for a grant recipient to capitalize a revolving loan fund and to provide loans and subgrants to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites.

Surface Transportation Program

This program allocates federal funds to complete a variety of improvements to rural highways (primarily county highways).