Press Release: Evers Administration Visit Highlights $7 Million State Investments for Sheboygan Businesses

STATE OF WISCONSIN

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

Tony Evers, Governor

Kathy Blumenfeld, Secretary-designee

Evers Administration Visit Highlights $7 Million State Investments for Sheboygan Businesses

Sheboygan, Wis. – Today, Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld and Deputy Secretary Chris Patton toured Main Street businesses with Department of Tourism Secretary-designee Anne Sayers, Mayor Ryan Sorenson, and Sheboygan Chamber Executive Director Deidre Martinez as part of a visit to highlight state investments. Governor Tony Evers made a $7 million investment in Sheboygan businesses, with a $13 million investment for businesses in Sheboygan County, with an overall investment of $65.5 million for Sheboygan County recovery.

The officials visited the Above & Beyond Children’s Museum, as well as the local independent bookstore WordHaven BookHouse, each of which received a $10,000 Main Street Bounceback grant. Local business community leaders joined on the visits to hear about the impact of the grants.   

“Governor Evers has made significant investments across the state to support local businesses, and Sheboygan is no exception,” said DOA Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld. “We’re honoring that investment by highlighting local businesses that create an amazing sense of community, and make Sheboygan such a special place to live, work, and visit.”

“Tourism is both big fun and big business in Wisconsin,” said Tourism Secretary-designee Anne Sayers. “I am so grateful to Governor Evers for his thoughtful investment of recovery funds, which have helped many tourism businesses bounce back from the pandemic.”

Governor Evers made more than $1 billion in investments statewide in support of small businesses. The Main Street Bounceback grant program was announced in the spring of 2021 with the first grants made in August 2021, to help small businesses and communities grow by populating vacant storefronts with new businesses and nonprofits. The Governor recently announced the state will provide an additional $25 million investment into the program, for a total investment of $100 million to help over 6,500 entrepreneurs across the state open new businesses or expand their existing operations, including more than 40 in Sheboygan alone. 

“It's important that we invest in new ideas and support the expansion of existing ones.  When we invest in this way, we are investing in the success of our community as whole,” said Sheboygan Chamber of Commerce executive director Deidre Martinez. “New businesses bring diverse options for goods and services, provide jobs, attracts tourists, and attracts workforce.  Starting or expanding a business is a risk, especially financially. When support is available, it helps to reduce some of that risk and allows our small businesses a greater chance for success. We are grateful for the dozens of grants received by Sheboygan County businesses through the Mainstreet Bounceback Grant Program!” 

Visit BadgerBounceback.wi.gov to view pandemic-related assistance information as well as the latest data and success stories about how COVID-relief investments are making a difference across the state. For updates on other recovery-related grant opportunities, sign up for the Badger Bounceback update list.