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Board approves WEDC small-business development grant agreement; attorney to seek municipal clarifications
Summary
The Village approved entering the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation small-business development grant agreement subject to any attorney-recommended clarifications; the board discussed administrative responsibilities, reimbursement procedures and grant limits.
HORTONVILLE, Wis. — The Village of Hortonville board on June 19 approved the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) small-business development grant agreement as presented, subject to attorney and administrator review of minor clarifications.
Village staff and the village attorney described the WEDC standard agreement as written for direct recipients and noted that municipalities acting as intermediaries bear some administrative responsibilities — chiefly verifying invoices and submitting reimbursement requests to WEDC. The attorney said the agreement poses limited risk for this type of small downtown façade and business-improvement work but recommended clarifying the definition of “project” so the village is not read as stepping into a developer’s role.
Staff explained administration would likely be handled with support from the consultant MSA, which helped write the grant, and that the village would use a bill‑payment portal and a dedicated bank account for reimbursements. The board discussed workload implications for village staff and was told additional administrative tasks would be modest and that outside support would be used for more complex documentation.
The board discussed program parameters: staff proposed a $50,000 maximum per applicant but said the village’s aim was to spread funds widely with typical grants in the $15,000–$20,000 range and limited to the downtown zoning district. The board approved the agreement and authorized staff and counsel to negotiate minor edits with WEDC if those edits are accepted by WEDC.
Staff noted a June 30 submittal deadline for the application; the board authorized moving forward so long as attorney-recommended edits that do not increase village legal exposure are accepted.
