MADISON—Governor Jim Doyle today announced that the Wisconsin Counties
Association has received a $300,000 grant from the US Commerce
Department’s
Economic Development Administration (EDA) to improve economic
development in flood-affected counties.

“Wisconsin’s people and communities reacted to the 2008 floods with
spirit, hard work and generosity,” Governor Doyle said. “I’m pleased
to announce these additional federal funds that will spur economic
development in southeastern Wisconsin.”

“We are very pleased to work with the federal and state governments to
provide assistance to people who are attempting to put their lives
back together after last summer’s floods,” stated Mark O’Connell,
executive director of the Wisconsin Counties Association. “Economic
activity and job creation will help those in need tremendously,”
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) provided technical assistance so
that grantees could secure the funding for this project. Funds will be
used to provide an economic development professional, who will serve
all 30 flood-affected counties. The project will focus on creating and
producing marketing strategies that emphasizes the use of regional
assets for industrial growth. Additionally, it will provide a public
awareness campaign to promote interest in these assets. Wisconsin
Counties Association and Discover Wisconsin will be producing four
television programs to support the assets identified through the
research. The total project cost is $627,548.

Counties participating in this project include Adams, Calumet,
Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green
Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, La Crosse,
Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk,
Sheboygan, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha and Winnebago.

In September 2008, Commerce received an $800,000 grant from the EDA to
provide technical assistance to counties that were declared a disaster
after the 2008 flood. Commerce’s Flood Recovery Coordinators are
working with affected communities, businesses and regions to support
recovery strategies that help these communities and businesses restore
their operations and prepare for future opportunities.