WEDA Wire – December 22, 2022

WOW! I can’t believe 2022 is already coming to an end. As WEDA closes out our books for the year, we appreciate the time to reflect on our past accomplishments, which are many. But first, I personally want to take this opportunity to wish each one of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a blessed New Year! Thank you for your membership and support of WEDA. It has been our privilege to serve as your Board Chair and an advocate for Wisconsin’s talented economic development community.

Throughout the past year WEDA has solicited and received feedback on the most pressing issues facing our membership – and we have adjusted our programming to help address them. For instance, along with many private sector companies that struggle finding and training talent, local economic development organizations (EDO’s) also struggle with the workforce shortage crisis. Many of our member EDO’s are experiencing a new sort of “brain drain” as their experienced team members continue to leave their jobs due to stress and mental health burn out. Economic development professionals are accelerating retirement or career changes. Many redevelopment agencies, communities and EDO’s throughout Wisconsin are being pressed to train current staff on how to do more with less. Still, many are finding it difficult to hire replacements or are struggling to adequately prepare new economic development professionals. As such, WEDA’s job board was highly active in 2022. It is an excellent tool that many members have utilized throughout the year to help find in-demand talent.

2022 also saw an increase in the use of the WEDA Academy educational opportunities. The Academy provided a record number of economic development training opportunities aimed at flattening the learning curve for the state’s economic development community. Finally, this past year we instituted a little more “fun & stress relief” activities to our conferences and annual meetings so attendees could spend a little more time on personal relationship building and networking – and to give them a chance to mentally recharge and regroup.

As always, remember… WEDA is here to serve you. We listen to our members, we act accordingly, and we will always have your back. Earning your trust and increasing our value by monitoring the landscape for issues and opportunities that impact your ability to keep doing the great work that you do is what keeps us going! I totally expect 2023 to be another busy year where the WEDA team will continue to offer innovative economic development programs and services that are sought by our members.

WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes

As we look ahead to the New Year, we’re also looking back on the completion of one of Wisconsin’s most successful small business development initiatives – the Main Street Bounceback grants.

When Governor Evers created the program in the spring of 2021, the idea was to help communities build thriving downtowns by providing $10,000 grants to businesses and nonprofits that moved into empty storefronts.

The governor initially provided $50 million in federal recovery funds, or enough to assist 5,000 businesses. As demand for the grants surged, he increased funding to cover another 2,500 businesses, then 2,500 more – bringing total funding to $100 million for 10,000 grants.

With the program set to end on Dec. 31, WEDC staff and our regional partners are closing in on assisting  nearly 7,800 businesses in all 72 counties.

Gaining so many new small businesses in less than two years is impressive enough. But what makes these grants unique are the impacts they’re having on communities and on the business owners – and the lessons we’ve learned making these investments.

From Washburn on Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin to Prairie du Chien along the Mississippi River in southwestern Wisconsin and all points in between, local leaders tell us these grants are bringing excitement to downtowns by filling in the gaps between stores, encouraging people to linger, shop, dine, and spend in their own communities.

For the business owners, the grants have often provided that last little boost that allows them to realize their dreams. One of my favorite examples came last fall, when Governor Evers and I were visiting some of the first Bounceback businesses to open in Fond du Lac.

Monica Lara spotted us walking along Main Street and burst out of her store, with her Bounceback check in hand, so she could personally thank the governor and take a picture with him. Just this month, I stopped back at her store, Argentum et Aurum, and found that not only was her custom jewelry business booming, but she’s planning to expand.

We’ve heard many stories like Monica’s, and we’ve seen what businesses like hers mean to a community.

One unexpected result of the Bounceback program has been that more than half of the grants have gone to women-owned businesses – and over a third of the grants have gone to businesses in rural communities. From these results, we’ve learned that when resources are available, underrepresented entrepreneurs in every part of our state are ready to jump in and succeed.

Another key lesson from the Bounceback grants is how important it is to invest in all our communities.

A recent survey found Wisconsin ranked first in the nation in the share of federal recovery funds allocated to business and second in the share dedicated to economic development. Many of these funds went directly to small businesses, often in relatively small amounts.

What we discovered from the success of the Bounceback grants is that you don’t have to spend big to show big results. That’s because, as one store owner told me, “Small businesses know how to stretch a dollar.”

Our state will reap the benefits of the Main Street Bouncebacks for years to come as these businesses celebrate each New Year and our communities continue to flourish. And at WEDC, we’ll keep the spirit of the Bounceback grants alive by continuing to invest in our small businesses, supporting our communities, and making sure all Wisconsinites have the chance to fulfill their dreams.

Missy Hughes is Secretary and CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the state’s lead economic development organization.

By State Representative Rick Gundrum 

While the halls of the State Capitol are relatively quiet this time of year, that is about to change very quickly, as the 2023-24 legislative session kicks-off on Jan. 3. But Inauguration Day will just be the start of a two-year session that will see WEDA actively engage policymakers on legislative and regulatory issues to help create a strong economic development environment in Wisconsin and to ensure WEDA members have access to the necessary program and policy tools to grow their local economies.

In fact, WEDA has developed our 2023-24 Legislative Agenda, which lays out our legislative priorities for the upcoming session and will be used to guide our advocacy efforts over the next two years. Thank you to the WEDA Legislative Committee, which was instrumental in the development our Legislative Agenda.

Please contact WEDA V.P. of Legislative Affairs Michael Welsh at mwelsh@weda.org with any questions.

Republican Legislative Leaders Announce Committee Assignments for 2023-24 Legislative Session

Republican legislative leaders in both the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate recently announced standing committee assignments for the 2023-24 legislative session. Please find below the GOP make-up of committees of interest to WEDA:

ASSEMBLY:

• Jobs, Economy, and Small Business Development
  • Rep. Rick Gundrum, Chair
  • Rep. David Armstrong
  • Rep.-elect Amy Binsfeld
  • Rep. Dan Knodl
  • Rep. John Macco
  • Rep. Adam Neylon
  • Rep.-elect Jerry O’Connor
  • Rep. Donna Rozar
    

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• Rural Development
  • Rep. David Armstrong, Chair
  • Rep.-elect Peter Schmidt
  • Rep. James Edming
  • Rep.-elect Chanz Green
  • Rep.-elect Karen Hurd
  • Rep. Clint Moses
  • Rep. Todd Novak
  • Rep. Nancy VanderMeer
    

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• Workforce Development and Economic Opportunities
  • Rep. Warren Petryk, Chair
  • Rep.-elect Tom Michalski
  • Rep. David Armstrong
  • Rep. Rick Gundrum
  • Rep.-elect Amanda Nedweski
  • Rep.-elect Jerry O’Connor
  • Rep.-elect Nik Rettinger
  • Rep. Donna Rozar
  • Rep.-elect Angie Sapik
  • Rep. Pat Snyder

Full Assembly committee membership list: https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/221215Committee.pdf

SENATE:

• Economic Development & Technical Colleges
  • Senator Dan Feyen, Chair
  • Senator Rob Stafsholt, Vice-chair
  • Senator Rob Cowles, Member
    

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• Insurance and Small Business
  • Senator Mary Felzkowski, Chair
  • Senator Rob Hutton, Vice-chair
  • Senator John Jagler, Member
    

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• Housing, Rural Issues & Forestry
  • Senator Romaine Quinn, Chair
  • Senator John Jagler, Vice-chair
  • Senator Rob Stafsholt, Member

Full Senate committee membership list: https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/221215Senate.pdf

It is also important to point out that appointments to the 16-member Joint Finance Committee (JFC) were also announced. The Republican-controlled committee, which is comprised of equal members from both the Assembly and Senate, is among the most important committees in the Legislature, as it is charged with writing the two-year state budget bill. Please find below the JFC roster for the 2023-24 legislative session:

Assembly Members

• Republicans:
  • Mark Born, Co-Chair
  • Terry Katsma, Vice-Chair
  • Shannon Zimmerman
  • Tony Kurtz
  • Jessie Rodriguez
  • Alex Dallman

• Democrats
  • Evan Goyke
  • Tip McGuire

Senate Members

• Republicans
  • Howard Marklein, Co-Chair
  • Duey Stroebel, Vice-Chair
  • Mary Felzkowski
  • Joan Ballweg
  • Pat Testin
  • Eric Wimberger

• Democrats
  • LaTonya Johnson
  • Kelda Roys

Field Grows Crowded for Open State Senate Seat Race to Replace Former Senator Darling

As was announced in last month’s WAO Advocacy Newsletter, State Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) steeped down from office on Dec. 1 after serving in the Legislature for 32 years.

The 8th Senate District, which Darling vacated, covers portions of Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington Counties, including the municipalities of Mequon, Cedarburg, Germantown, and Menomonee Falls. The district leans Republican, but the special election could be competitive, and several candidates – from both sides of the aisle – have announced they will seek the open seat next year.

The GOP primary will be crowded, as Republican State Representatives Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) and Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls), whose Assembly districts lie within the 8th Senate District, have announced their candidacy. Other Republicans planning to run include Village of Thiensville President Van Mobley; Brown Deer college student Robert Albrightson; and former State Senator Randy Hopper.

On the Democratic side, Whitefish Bay attorney Jodi Habush Sinykin is the only announced candidate.

Gov. Tony Evers has ordered a special election for April 2023, which coincides with the state’s 2023 spring election. If necessary – which currently appears to be the case on the GOP side – a primary will be held on February 21. The winner of the special election will serve the remainder of Darling’s term, which ends in January 2025.

Political Quick Notes:

• Evers recently announced he will give his 2023 State of the State Address on Tuesday, January 24. His 2023-25 Biennial Budget Address will take place on Wednesday, February 15. He will give both addresses at 7:00 P.M. before a joint session of the Legislature.
  

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• The Wisconsin Department of Administration recently reported the state anticipates a record-high budget surplus of nearly $6.6 billion for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30, 2023. Previous estimates set the surplus at just over $5 billion. In addition to the expected $6.6 billion surplus, the state also has $1.7 billion in its rainy-day fund.
  

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• The state Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) recently announced that employers will be able to track the status of occupational license applications of current and future employees on the agency’s “LicensE” website. Employers will need the applicant’s 10 digit “PAR” number to look up the status of a particular occupational license application. The status look-up tool may be found here:  https://license.wi.gov/s/application-status-lookup

n the new 2023-24 legislative session, I have the honor of chairing the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy and Small Business Development. Strong economic development is the key toward a more prosperous Wisconsin. The committee began the new session by holding informational hearings to learn what we as legislators can do to help business leaders in this state. These are the top four issues that came from those hearings:

• Reduce regulatory burdens – Wisconsin continues to have some of the most restrictive regulations for businesses in the country.  Every dollar spent by a business on expensive, complicated and burdensome regulations is a dollar that can’t be spent on increasing wages, expanding workforce or growing business.
• Defend the Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit – Many  businesses  rely on the MAC for their financial health. It was a mistake for Governor Tony Evers to limit the manufacturing portion of the MAC in his budget proposal. Tax credits are necessary to help with economic growth in all sectors of Wisconsin’s economy.
• Repeal Wisconsin’s personal property tax – This antiquated tax has been on the books way too long. Removal of this unfair tax will eliminate financial burdens on job creators and spur economic growth.
• Make investments in infrastructure – A more prosperous Wisconsin depends on a safe, robust, and reliable transportation infrastructure.  Continued investment is necessary.

The Wisconsin Legislature has already started addressing some of these concerns, and we will continue to focus on workforce development policy solutions to help reduce the labor shortage and meet the needs of our business community.

We keep the state in a strong fiscal position by keeping Wisconsinites employed and expanding the workforce and not hindering Wisconsin businesses.  The key toward a more prosperous Wisconsin is state government agencies working together supporting private sector businesses.

Representative Rick Gundrum (R-Slinger) represents the 58th Assembly District and serves as the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy and Small Business Development.

Guest Colum by Brittany Beyer – Solarity

It’s been just over a year since the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law by President Biden. The FCC just released access to its first update of the Broadband mapping tool. There’s been so much buzz about the “once in a lifetime investment” attached to broadband expansion, many are still looking for clarity on how the broadband gap will be closed.

Economic Development professionals are in a unique position to serve as champions for broadband projects at the local level. I bet if you asked your constituents about their broadband needs, those who are suffering with less-than-desirable speeds will certainly let you know. You will hear it from businesses of all sizes: small home businesses trying to do online sales and operations, hospital groups who are looking to serve their clients through telemedicine where there’s no connectivity, and manufacturing companies that are rapidly growing their automated segments to expand.

Like many of you, I have been tracking on this since the prospect of this massive investment. This work has become so core to my focus that I decided to segue from economic development and dedicate myself to broadband full time in a new role focusing on Broadband with HealthTech Solutions / Solarity.

My message to all of you is this: I know you are anxious to do the work and get broadband access to those who do not have broadband service yet. Patience and planning are key right now, but mostly the planning. At the State level, the Public Service Commission and the Broadband Office are putting many pieces in place related to the NTIA funding streams. It will be a few more months before funding starts to flow, and exactly when that will be is something their office will let us all know when they can.

That doesn’t mean you should sit idle during this time. As Louis Pasteur said, “Fortune favors the prepared mind.” Expand the preparedness to your community at large, and I agree with this statement. Fortune also favors the bold. Keep that in mind as well. This is a time of courage and building new efforts that will last for generations.

As we have seen in multiple locations around the state (many of their stories featured in the two reports created by the Task Force on Broadband), there is no one person or one agency that is solving this problem. It is a consortium of municipalities, local organizations, and engaged citizens that are building out their vision for community connectivity.

Here are key ideas to explore and keep in mind:

• There’s a good chance that there will be planning funding flowing from the PSC’s Wisconsin Broadband Office in the near future. Do not wait until the application opens to begin your community discussions. are some first steps outlined in the community planning program published by the Benton Foundation. Do some of this initial work, and you will meet your consultant with a much clearer image of what your broadband needs truly are.

• Have you engaged your regional economic development organization or regional planning commission? They are aware of the issue and learning as rapidly as they can. We learned from New North’s regional Broadband study that by engaging at this level to do planning will reveal missing middle mile with more clarity. We will be hearing more about this in the coming years, but it is essential to think beyond the city or county border when doing broadband planning work.

• It’s not just about getting fiber built everywhere (which will be tough and expensive) or getting connections everywhere, but it is about making connectivity affordable as well. Double check that the Affordability Connectivity Program (ACP) is being used as widely as it could be. LISC has a handy map that you can check. If there’s room for improvement, consider how your broadband committee can spread the word or encourage building an application to the FCC’s Outreach Grant Program. Applications are due on January 9^th.

• The bill is called the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” and so often the “jobs” part gets lost in the immensity of the effort to build out. It’s a tight labor market, and in broadband infrastructure building the workforce needs are only going to expand. Work locally to understand how your community can take advantage of this- if you have workers prepared in your backyard that don’t have to be imported (and housed and transported), you will be in a better position. Work with your high schools, technical colleges, and Workforce Boards to further the local discussion.

• There will be a matching funds aspect to the BEAD buildout grants, just like the State Broadband Expansion grants. If your community is in great need for connectivity but not confident about the funding, consider talking to neighboring towns, cities, and even the county about doing this work together. Even multi-county projects will be incredibly competitive, and pooling funds together will go further than doing one’s own grant proposal. Remember- this is an investment in the future that has immense return for residents and your community at large. Consider using that language.

This is an important time for our communities, but it will not happen overnight, nor will it happen without local support. I have stressed patience over and over in this piece, but it is a virtue for a reason. We are all learning rapidly in this new space. Let’s make sure we are learning together and moving forward.

Brittany Beyer is a Senior Consultant, specializing in Broadband projects, at HealthTech Solutions / Solarity. Prior to this position, she was the Executive Director of Grow North Regional Economic Development Corporation (2018-2022) and served as the inaugural chair of the Governor of Wisconsin’s Task Force on Broadband Access from 2020-2022. Brittany can be reached at Brittany.beyer@solarity.com

State receiving more than $5 million for Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program and Digital Equity Act planning  

Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC), recently announced the state will receive $5,952,197 to plan for the deployment and adoption of affordable, equitable, and reliable high-speed internet throughout the state. This investment, awarded by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), is part of the Internet for All initiative under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden in 2021.

“The investments I’m proud to announce today represent the start of a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Wisconsin and will help us achieve our mission to expand broadband statewide,” said Gov. Evers. “Since becoming governor, we’ve made historic progress to connect more than 387,000 homes and businesses to reliable, high-speed internet. These new investments will help bolster our ongoing work and give local communities the support needed to build critical broadband infrastructure and ensure high-speed internet access for all.”

On November 21, the NTIA awarded $5 million to the PSC’s Wisconsin Broadband Office to support the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program planning process. Wisconsin will learn its total BEAD allocation in 2023 after the federal government finalizes allocations of infrastructure funding based on the formula in the law. Using currently available data, Wisconsin could expect an allocation of $700 million to $1.1 billion for broadband expansion under BEAD.

“Digital equity is crucial to ensure that everyone in Wisconsin has access to healthcare, education, and remote work opportunities,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “I thank Governor Evers for his efforts to connect unserved and underserved areas as part of the Internet for All initiative.”

BEAD was created to build quality infrastructure where it is needed and increase the adoption of high-speed internet. BEAD planning funds will support capacity building with regional and local government partners, technical assistance and outreach events, broadband mapping, and workforce planning efforts. After the planning process, future BEAD infrastructure funding will be used to deploy and upgrade high-speed internet statewide. Unserved households and businesses lacking 25 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 3 Mbps upload will be considered the highest priority under the BEAD Program.

Alongside BEAD, in September, the NTIA awarded $952,197 in Digital Equity Act funding to the PSC for the creation of a state digital equity plan. The goal of Digital Equity Act programs is to ensure all communities can access and use affordable, reliable high-speed internet to meet their needs and improve their lives. With the planning grant, Wisconsin will create a robust and inclusive five-year statewide digital equity plan that will serve as a strategic guide and implementation plan for increasing digital equity in the state and preparing for future digital equity capacity grant funding.

“The PSC is thrilled to spearhead the ‘Internet for All’ programs to close Wisconsin’s digital divide,” said PSC Chairperson Rebecca Cameron Valcq. “These projects continue the governor’s proven track record of improving broadband access by connecting unserved and underserved areas in our state. We look forward to working with state, local, and Tribal leaders, stakeholders, and Wisconsin residents to identify strategic use of these investments.”

This announcement builds off the already historic investments Gov. Evers has made to expand broadband in Wisconsin. Since Gov. Evers took office in 2019, Wisconsin has disbursed or committed more than $340 million towards broadband expansion efforts, including $145 million in federal funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The PSC recently developed the Broadband Grant Footprint, a new interactive mapping tool to show where in the state projects are being build that were awarded broadband grant funding by the PSC.

Wisconsin’s Broadband Grant Program has been nationally recognized. In August, the state’s Broadband Office was named “Best in Class” by the NTIA for “clear documentation of their application and award processes.”

More information about these programs will be available in the coming weeks and months. Wisconsinites are encouraged to monitor the PSC website at psc.wi.gov and the PSC’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Internet for All webpage for the latest updates

The Academy wrapped up its 2022 programs on November 2, with the webinar Basics of Tax Increment Financing.  A big thank you to our instructors Sean Lentz, CIPMA, Senior Municipal Advisor, and Josh Low, Senior Finance Specialist, Ehlers, Inc. who provided an outstanding introduction to tax increment financing.

The slate of Academy programs is now in place for 2023 (see below).  I appreciate the input I received from our members at the WEDA Best Practices conference in La Crosse and through our post program surveys. I also want to give a big shout out to my Academy advisory committee members Angela Close, Maysee Herr, Jenny Kuderer-Radcliffe, Daniel Lindstrom, James Otterstein, Patrick Schloss and WEDA CEO Mary Perry for their excellent program recommendations.

2023 WEDA Academy Schedule:

• February 1
  • Real Estate Project Analysis: Historic Building Redevelopment to Greenfield Development – Comprehensive (in-person)

• April 12
  • Stretching Your Community Marketing Dollars – Webinar

• August 9
  • An Economic Developer’s Guide to Municipal Engineering Terms – Webinar

• September 27
  • Tax Increment Financing – Comprehensive (in-person)

• November 8
  • Industrial & Business Park Development – Webinar

Look for registration soon on weda.org for the February 1 Academy program on Real Estate Project Analysis. If you are looking to expand your knowledge and skills in understanding and evaluating real estate project opportunities in your community, this is the course for you.

As always, I encourage you to reach out to me at kheady@weda.org if you have any program ideas, topic suggestions, or if you are interested in serving as an instructor.

Guest Column by Jay Rothman, President – University of Wisconsin System

When I agreed to serve in my new role after more than 30 years practicing law in Milwaukee, I was drawn to the UW System’s long tradition of making a difference. Our family of 13 universities across 26 campuses – and the people who make us who we are – change the trajectory of lives every single day, drive critical research, improve communities, and move Wisconsin forward with expanded opportunities.

As I toured our universities over the past several months, one thought kept coming back to me – What would the state of Wisconsin look like without the UW System? I ask that you think about that for a moment … Wisconsin would be a very different place and not a better one by any measure.

We are blessed to have two R1 research universities, UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee, that drive innovation every day. Our flagship, UW-Madison, is a research powerhouse recognized around the world. And our 11 comprehensive universities provide bountiful opportunities for hands-on learning and research that enables students to explore their potential and prepare for whatever future lies ahead.

Every year, we educate more than 160,000 students and award about 37,000 degrees – many in high-need areas like nursing, education, engineering, business, computer science, IT, and data science.

Significantly, nine of every 10 Wisconsin resident graduates of UW System schools remain in the state five years after graduation.

Our faculty generates groundbreaking research that improves lives and often leads to patents and new business enterprises. The UW System is a major source of research and innovation with more than $1.5 billion in sponsored research activity annually.

So why does all this matter to Wisconsinites? A recent report from Forward Analytics states that if the migration patterns of the past decade or so persist – more people outbound than inbound – the number of working Wisconsin residents by 2030 will decline by about 130,000!

As Wisconsin’s economic development professionals know all too well, employers are scrambling. There are plenty of great ideas, great plans, and great dreams – but simply not enough employees with the right skills and experience to put them into action. The pool of available people with a four-year or graduate degree who are qualified to meet our needs is simply not large enough. And, if those jobs are not filled in Wisconsin, they will – by necessity – move elsewhere. It is that simple.

In the war for talent, the UW System must be leveraged as the state’s best talent magnet. The economic vibrancy that is driven by human capital must be our top investment.

Our commitment at the UW System is to be an active partner in economic development initiatives. Advancing economic prosperity is one of four key objectives in the UW System’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan. Part of that is increasing our graduates by over 10% to 41,000 annually to make sure we are doing our part. We look forward to working with everyone committed to ensuring we are developing the talent for Wisconsin’s future.

Applications Opening Soon – Dream Up! Grant Program: Cohort 3

The Dream Up! Child Care Supply-Building grant program, a part of Project Growth, will open for another round of applications soon. Through this program, awarded communities will receive strategic planning support from our partner, First Children Finance (FCF), along with $75,000 in grant funding. Additional $5,000 stipends will be allocated to local, participating child care providers who submit updated business plans during the strategic planning process. Through a collaborative community approach, teams of community stakeholders, will work to evaluate, plan, sustain, and expand existing child care, and support new child care programs.

The first two cohorts of Dream Up! awardees were announced last spring.

Who should apply?

Applications should be submitted by a team of invested community members. Teams are encouraged to include a cross-sector of professionals. Team representatives may include (but are not limited to):

• Local business leaders
• Community and civic organizations
• Economic development programs
• Child care programs
• School districts
• Local government
• City or county administrations

You can also view more information in our Dream Up! Informational Chart and rural and urban community scenarios on the Dream Up! webpage.

The competitive applications period will run February 20 – March 17, 2023 at 5 p.m. CST.

We encourage interested parties to review all materials on the Dream Up! webpage, start thinking about who your core team might be composed of, and start gathering data.