"It's taken us 4 years to juggle and create the Community Partners Campus. We couldn't have come close to making this work without the State of Wisconsin, Marathon County, the City of Wausau and our community."

If not for the Badger Bounceback grant, I would have not been able to grow my business of Holistic Healing in Neillsville, Wisconsin. The grant not only help me get started in a brick and mortar. It is helping me help the people of Neillsville and the surrounding areas to heal their minds, body & soul! Thank you Bounceback for helping me live out my dreams!

The Equitable Recovery grant allowed us to create The Nurturing Collaborative an initiative focused nutrition and wellness seeking to positively impact black maternal health and BIPOC birth outcomes in Milwaukee. We are providing monthly boxes of nutrition food to pregnant parents, quarterly nurturing boxes filled with products from local black owned businesses focused on parent and baby, and are providing a series of workshops focused on pre/post natal needs. Edit

Ripon’s relationship with WEDC and the Wisconsin Main Street program has helped our downtown revitalization program blossom into a viable destination. The Bounceback Grant Program certainly helped us recruit numerous new businesses and led to several expansion projects. As a result, the downtown is now experiencing its lowest vacancy rate in the history of the revitalization program, a rate which is less than one percent and far below the national average

The grant helped us to stay in business; we needed to catch up on rent, vendor bills, and other overhead expenses. The money we received changed our stresses about how we would pay our bills and keep our doors open to the point of celebrating our business's expansion and exposure. The grant helped us invest in inventory. Moving from 572 sq ft to a 1460 sq location has been a blessing. None of these could have happened without the life-changing grant.

The Main Street Bounceback program was instrumental in helping us sustain our business during covid and even played a major part in our expansion into our second location. We had an opportunity to take our full-service event production company and create the first full-service event venue in Butler, WI. With our new space we are able provides an upscale celebration space that provide a beautiful canvas for the host to plan out their celebration using their own vendors or have a completely stress free celebration by taking advantage of our on-site certified planning services. It is truly a unique approach to an event venue and one that we intend to spread throughout Wisconsin.

The Main Street Bounceback Grant allows us to continue providing transitional living for women and children affected by substance use and mental health. With the rising costs of everything, this grant will enable us to pay our bills while we continue to apply for grants.

I just wanted to send a thank you for this round of payments and how close it is to the amounts that were published. I am able to keep my quarantine rate going, not increase my rates, put some money into retirement for myself (first time in years) and a few other enhancements to my program. The kids enjoyed picking out some new sandbox toys, a little picnic table, and a new climber to replace my old one for the toddlers with some of the grant money. All as I had tentatively planned according to the estimate and now I can.

It has let me keep a roof over my families head and peace of mind while I look for work.

Upnet WI received a $60,324 CARES Broadband grant to install new equipment on an existing tower to reach 200 homes and 20 business with new or improved internet service in the communities of Cainville, Magnolia, and Evansville.

The grant was a lifeline for our business. I liken it to a set of jumper cables, it kind of got the car going again. We were struggling, and doing everything possible to cut costs, every little thing we could do to get through and survive. Receiving this grant coincided very nicely with the time we were allowed to open up again, and have people back inside. We were able to put it straight into payroll to bring some of our staff back to work.

Thank you for your involvement with Wisconsin's "We Are All In" grant that provided support for small businesses affected by the Covid emergency. In addition to being able to pay off my business liability insurance and purchase needed equipment, it allowed me to remain in business through the winter months that are particularly difficult for my business in the Wisconsin Northwoods. I am also thankful to the DOR for notifying me of this grant as well as to local customers who urged me to apply. It's nice to see a government program that is fair and impartial at providing necessary support for those often neglected in today's political arena!

Green County Development Corporation received a $420,000 CARES Broadband grant and partnered with LiteWire Internet Service to add fixed wireless equipment on 43 existing structures in Green County. This project added new or improved internet access for 16,000 locations throughout Green County.

We are so appreciative of this grant. With these funds we were able to supply PPE supplies for our guests and staff. We implemented L-wave purifiers into our common area HVAC units and Nu-wave into our individual guest room PTAC units. We also put several of our staff members through the GBAC training where they were certified by a program that taught the correct protocols and best practices for biohazard response such as COVID-19. Without these funds we would not have been able to provide the necessary tools to keep everyone safe. Thank you Governor Evers for recognizing the importance of Wisconsin's Tourism.

"The Main Street Bounceback Grant has given Blend the opportunity to create a space that highlights the historic features of our building, all while elevating the salon with modern amenities. Blend has been able to give our clients a luxury experience, add top of the line equipment, & expand our services from the benefits that we've received from the Main Street Bounceback Grant. We are beyond thankful & extremely excited to continue to grow in the historic Downtown Ripon."

Ripon's Main Street continues to grow and show itself as a shopping, dining, and experience destination, and Alexandria Games is excited to be diving head first into the action. The Main Street Bounceback Grant helped to expand our inventory selection into key areas we had already planned to grow into, including infant/toddler items and S.T.E.A.M. toys. It also helped us improve our game play area to offer a more enjoyable tournament and community space.

"We see a lot more traffic and are more effective in being able to mingle with other partners. Seeking services is a full time job, and here (our clients) can do it all." 

"A key word is leverage. Every ARPA dollar is a dollar of credit, building the balance sheets of businesses, building resilience, building at higher revenues, creating jobs – family supporting jobs – it’s a multiplier in the community."

The program saved my condo from going into foreclosure. I never had assistance from a homeownership program before I was so grateful that the state came out with the program - it changed my life.

The mission of Cia Siab, Inc. is to provide culturally empowering advocacy to the Hmoob community through holistic support services, with the revitalization of the Hmoob language and culture as the foundation. Our Main Street Bounceback grant helped us purchase the former daycare building across the street from our existing offices in 2021. It had been vacant for several years and required extensive renovation. We now use the new, transformed space to offer free weekly programming to Hmoob people of all ages in La Crosse County as well as a 10-day Hmoob Language and Culture Camp for middle- and high-school age youth.

I just can't say thank you enough. The stress and dark cloud I have been living under thinking the house was going to be taken from me and the kids and we would be out on the streets was so overwhelming and scary. I will be keeping current on payments from here on out. I never want to feel that awful feeling again of being behind and unsure if we will be forced to leave our home.

Client had limited income when she applied and was more than $90k in arrears. She took on new employment as part of this process and was able to get her mortgage reinstated and was approved for a loan modification. Seemed very unlikely to succeed at the beginning but resolved nicely.

The Mainstreet Bounceback Grant made a big difference in my ability to keep AdventureUs open and growing while we transitioned away from sewing face masks back to our trademarked snow sleeve wrist gaiters and offering zipper repair services. This year, we've been able to expand and opening a larger location and can now offer our previously renovated space to yet another downtown business - way to pay it forward Wisconsin!

Community health workers are people with lived experience who are passionate about their community, and who want to give back to their community. The fact that we’ll now be able to over double the amount of community health workers means that our community will be healthier, and people will have a better quality of life.

Wow. I feel like I can breathe for the first time in months. It has been so incredibly stressful. I know that everything will be ok now. This assistance is the bridge I needed to get back on track financially. Thank you for all you do to make this happen for everyone who really needs this miracle. Know that your assistance matters to people far beyond what you will ever hear about. Thank you.

It put me in a position to better manage my family’s situation in regards to how the pandemic affected our stability as a whole. Gave us some space to breath and not feel like we were drowning in debt.

I just want to say thank you so much for all your hard work. If you had not worked so hard for us to receive this extra money my two centers most likely would not have survived. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Dear everyone in charge of helping WI businesses during a very rough time in history,

Having been in practice, serving a very vital role in the community since the 1990’s, I cannot say I have ever felt more appreciative of our state and federal government than during this pandemic. We have spent tens of thousands of dollars on PPE and taken so many time-consuming yet vital steps to keep our clinic safe for the public. These two grants received during the roughest times in our entire history were priceless. Had they not been offered and then miraculously approved, the simple truth is that we would have taken on significant debt to handle the difference between expenses and lost income from this pandemic.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I’m sure other businesses are just as appreciative as we are; if you are not hearing from them, it’s merely due to the number of hours business owners are currently working, mired in the distractions of every single little issue that arises in such circumstances.

As a company in the service industry, there were many months when we couldn’t do what we do best, serve people. The grant helped ensure we weren’t going anywhere and we would serve our community for many years to come.

The grant was more than a check. It was local government putting a kind hand on our shoulder and letting us know we are a part of the fabric of this community and we are valued and supported.

We are excited to use the funds to enhance and grow our events including Maple Syrup Fest, Music on the Lake, the Twin Triathlon and the Midwest Musky Classic. We will improve our marketing of Phelps and of these events to increase turnout, show people what Phelps has to offer and bring more business to our town. 

The Downtown Riverwalk west side project will be catalytic for the Downtown area. This project has long been anticipated by our business community, visitors and recreational enthusiasts. Improving the Riverwalk will increase economic development opportunities for building owners. The new underpass will provide pedestrian access to North Main Street businesses and residents. Thank you to Governor Evers and Secretary-designee Blumenfeld for this generous award. Thanks also to our city team for their determination and writing this successful application.

"As a business owner and resident of the Near West Side, I have seen firsthand the need for increased quality, safe and affordable housing in our neighborhood. I have also seen my clients and neighbors who need additional support with employment, and access to fresh food – and I welcome this new community center right in our area where they can get additional resources and assistance they need. This new development will bring more positive changes to 27th Street and the Near West Side neighborhood."

"This new building allows us to provide basic shelter and enchanced services - 365 days per year for up to 50 people per night - keeping our homeless off the streets, and moving them towards a better life."

"In 2021, the Winnebagoland Housing Coalition released the Homeless Continuum Report. The grant funds have accelerated our ability to prevent homelessness. Two years ago, my concern was the report was headed toward the way of most government documents – on a shelf collecting dust. With this grant, we will accomplish all seven recommendations."

"Keeping care local is important for rural communities like Elroy...By placing the new Gundersen Elroy Clinic in the heart of downtown, we’re doing our part to get even further ahead of disease by improving the economic health of the community, too. We’re very thankful for the support Governor Evers and his administration have given to this project and appreciate the partnerships it has fostered in reducing health disparities in our communities."

“Badger Box was so valuable to both our farm/meat business and our community needs. Large consistent meat purchases help us stay in business and remain a part of our rural community.”

We've now got more after-school opportunities, more math and science. We have added to the number of students we can serve. These funds made an indelible mark on this school. We now have the tools and staff to support students in this next season of our school's history. Students have more opportunities to earn early college credits, and some can earn full rides; we've been able to take students to visit college campuses and expand our college guidance services

Client is an Ecuadorian immigrant who got behind on her land contract payments. She was also routinely having issues maintaining homeowner's insurance. We were able to reach an agreement with the land contract company to bring the land contract current through a WHH payment and a no interest repayment plan.

Client is a veteran and a single father with primary custody of his daughter. His house had been sold, but we were able to overturn the sale, as well as get it and the judgment in the case vacated.

This grant is life changing. We hired two folks and now we're providing better services and doing better programming. It's multi-year funding. We can set long-term goals and do long-term work… We couldn't even think about building capacity without these funds.

The pandemic assistance we received through state grants was a lifeline to help us manage our 18-month closure and to ensure a strong future for the arts in South-Central Wisconsin. The funds enabled us to reach our audiences through digital programming, helped cover the wages of the reduced team of Overture employees, helped pay for urgent repairs to the facility and provide much-needed upgrades to the security and safety within the building, helping us to maintain our world-class center, and allowed us to invest in personal protective equipment and supplies needed to safely reopen. All of us at Overture Center are grateful for the support that made it possible to reopen our doors, to revive our educational and engagement programming and to be back together in-person with our patrons. Your assistance made it possible for us to continue our mission to support and elevate our community’s creative culture, economy and quality of life through the arts.

As of April 25, more than 40 small businesses located in the City of West Bend have received, in total, over $400,000 in grant funding through the Main Street Bounceback Grant program. “So far, the City of West Bend assisted more than 50 small businesses apply for Bounceback Grants,” said Jessica Wildes, Communications and Economic Development Director. “This infusion of funding has been transformational in filling vacant storefronts and office space downtown and throughout the community. This kick-start investment will have a lasting economic impact!” Boutique shops and specialty businesses now fill historic downtown West Bend. The Bounceback Grant program encouraged entrepreneurs to take the next step by opening a brick-and-mortar location. The funding has also helped existing businesses recover from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of West Bend is actively promoting the grant program to new, expanding and prospective businesses and nonprofit organizations. Thank you for making this funding available!

I am writing to anyone involved in helping make the grants to child-care centers possible. We are a single location daycare with a capacity of 150 children. Three of us own the center and rely on each other to keep things going. Since Covid-19 hit, we have taken some large hits in lack of tuition, both when we had to shut down for 9 weeks (but we were lucky enough to get a PPP loan) and with having fewer than normal families enrolled. We are happy that we are at about 70% capacity, currently, but recently had a few more families pull out to stay home and be safe. There probably will be more to come. We value our employees, as many have been with us for 10-25 years. We have not let anyone go, due to less work needed. We worry about the financial burden on the business, the families, and the staff, as well as the overall health of everyone. I want you to know the grants that you are providing are helping our business and employees GREATLY!! Being able to give employees bonuses to help bridge the lack of hours, occasionally, or lower Covid pay has really helped them.

They are so appreciative. Having the grants to help maintain general expenses for the business, like rent (ours costs almost $14,000/mo), utilities, cleaning supplies, and materials for our program has been extremely helpful in keeping our business afloat. Myself, along with the other two owners want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping make these grants happen. We did not want the generosity to go unnoticed. We feel we have more hope in keeping our business going with this help. THANK YOU!

I was approved for the We Are All In Grant. I wanted to express my sincere and overwhelming feeling of gratitude for this grant approval. This grant provides my family so much relief during this time. I can’t express what a blessing this has been for us, and how grateful we are for this gift. Grants like these matter...not to just small business owners, but to mothers, to families, to all that we have worked so hard for. This year has been one unexpected challenge after the next, but due to this grant, my family has been blessed with a true feeling of ease as we approach a life changing experience with the welcoming of our daughter. Thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you!

As a small business in the theatre arts, the support of Wisconsin and the Badger Bounceback program has been instrumental in keeping our Conservatory doors open, staff members creating, and production teams preparing for a safe and triumphant return to the theatre. Thank you for remembering how important the arts are to our communities!

Starwire Technologies received a $450,999 CARES Broadband grant to build fiber to the premise service to 88 homes and 18 business in the Town of Clam Falls in Polk County.

Today was a moment for Wisconsin with Governor Evers sharing directly key and needed financial resources to support diverse entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Wisconsin. WWBIC in its 35th year and thriving was one of the awardees with a $5 million grant award. We thank the Governor, Secretary Blumenfeld, Secretary Hughes and their teams in dedicating such funds to expand support where it is needed.

This is really going to be a gamechanger for us to be able to do more extensive work and be able to say yes to people who maybe had been waiting for our services. Oftentimes, our work is life changing and (involves) life-saving situations. It’s a privilege and an honor to be able to do that for homeowners.