$1.7M in grants to reduce flooding impact in southwestern Wisconsin

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (WKBT)– The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration awarded two grants to help reduce flooding impact in southwestern Wisconsin. A $1.4 million grant given the city of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, will help to make stormwater infrastructure improvements at the North Gateway Business Park, according to a press release.

The EDA grant, to be located in a Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Opportunity Zone, will be matched with $357,269 in local funds and is expected to create more than 50 jobs, retain 241 jobs, and generate $3.1 million in private investment.

“The Trump Administration is committed to helping American communities build modern infrastructure in Opportunity Zones. This project will expand the North Gateway Business Park to create flood-resistant building sites, and the project’s location in an Opportunity Zone will attract additional investment,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, in a statement.

“I want to thank the Trump Administration for its continued attentiveness to southwestern Wisconsin’s needs. These grants will help southwestern Wisconsin be more prepared to deal with flooding and its economic impacts,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), in a statement.

With this grant, EDA has invested more than $750 million in Opportunity Zones across the nation since 2018.

In addition, the EDA is awarding a $328,972 grant to the county of Richland and the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission to develop an economic resiliency plan that will diversify economic opportunities and reduce future flood impacts on Richland County’s economic base. The EDA grant will be matched with $82,243 in local funds.

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