Governor Walker Announces $2.4 Million in Grants for Wisconsin’s Coastal Communities

MADISON – Governor Scott Walker announced $2.4 million in grants today to protect and improve the Great Lakes resources in Wisconsin’s coastal communities. Administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the 34 grants will be used by local and state governments, regional planning commissions, universities, and nonprofit organizations to assist with projects totaling nearly $2.4 million.

Wisconsin’s Great Lakes are an important economic, cultural and natural resource. Lake Michigan and Lake Superior provide the people of Wisconsin with drinking water, commerce and recreation, and are a reason so many people live and visit the state.

The intergovernmental and private sector collaborations aided by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program advance Wisconsin and regional Great Lakes priorities such as enhancing public access, sustainable use practices, community development, habitat restoration, and pollution control.

Recipients for this year’s grants were recommended by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council, a Governor-appointed citizen and governmental advisory group. The funds are part of Wisconsin’s federally-funded Coastal Management Program.

The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program balances natural resource protection and sustainable economic development along Wisconsin’s Great Lakes coasts. The program awards federal funds from the Office for Coastal Management in the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to local governments and other entities for innovative coastal initiatives.

Next year’s grant application will be available the first week of August 2017. Staff will be holding application workshops in September where attendees will learn about the program, application process and discuss project ideas, the application deadline will be the first week in November 2017. Additional information about the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program can be found at http://coastal.wisconsin.gov.

A complete list of grants is attached.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.