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Wisconsin Arts Board approves final three 50th-anniversary grants to reach all 72 counties
Summary
The board approved the last three awards in a 50th-anniversary program designed to reach counties not previously served; the grants are small, mostly $2,500 awards, with one Jackson County award at $1,580, and approvals are pending budget availability.
The Wisconsin Arts Board approved the final three awards in its fiftieth-anniversary grant program, completing an effort to place awards in all 72 Wisconsin counties.
Staff told the board the 50th-anniversary program aimed to reach counties the board had not served in recent years; the final three recommended awards are for Trempealeau County, Pepin County and Jackson County. Staff said most anniversary grants in this program were $2,500 awards; Jackson County's project requested and matched a smaller amount ($1,580) that fit the local project's needs and match capacity.
Board members and staff highlighted the ancillary technical assistance and outreach paired with the small anniversary awards: staff convened at least one resource session for grantees in the first round and planned another resource session for the full 22 county cohort; partners invited included the Office of Rural Prosperity, Wisconsin Humanities and other regional technical-assistance partners. Staff said the technical assistance sessions were often as valuable as the grant dollars themselves for nascent local groups.
On vote, the board approved the three final anniversary awards, subject to the state budget. Staff indicated all targeted counties were reached through the two-year effort and summarized outreach to local libraries and community organizations in the selected counties.
Staff will proceed with outreach and coordinate planned resource and technical-assistance sessions with local partners and regional agencies.
