Press Release: Evers Administration Visit Highlights Nearly $2 Million State Investments for Village of Oregon Small Businesses and Pandemic Recovery

STATE OF WISCONSIN

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

Tony Evers, Governor

Kathy Blumenfeld, Secretary-designee

Evers Administration Visit Highlights Nearly $2 Million State Investments for Village of Oregon Small Businesses and Pandemic Recovery

Oregon, Wis. – Today, Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld toured Main Street businesses with Department of Tourism Secretary-designee Anne Sayers, Village of Oregon community development director Elise Cruz, and Oregon Chamber Executive Director Tanner Brereton as part of a visit to highlight state investments. Governor Tony Evers made a $1.8 million investment in Oregon businesses, and a $100,000 tourism investment through the Tourism Capital Grant program.

The Secretary-designees and Village of Oregon officials met with business owners from Firefly Coffeehouse, which received $20,000 We’re All In Grant funding, and Relaxation Destination which recently celebrated its grand opening after receiving a $10,000 Main Street Bounceback Grant. They also visited 14 South Artists to tour the future site of a public art installation, funded by the Tourism Capital Grant program to boost the local economy, draw visitors, and enliven public space in the Village.

(L-R): Jeanne Snow, owner of Relaxation Destination; Francine Tompkins, president of 14 South Artists; Department of Administration Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld; Elise Cruz, Village of Oregon director of community development; D. Tanner Brereton, Oregon Chamber of Commerce executive director; Department of Tourism Secretary-designee Anne Sayers; Jeanne Carpenter, owner of Firefly Coffeehouse; and Sen. Janis Ringhand.

“A hallmark of Governor Evers’ investments for communities across the state has been to support local business recovery, alongside a historic investment to support local tourism,” said DOA Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld. “Today, we’re celebrating both, as well as visiting new and established Oregon businesses that bring so much to this community.”

“Spending time in our Main Street businesses is a reminder that tourism is both big fun and big business in Wisconsin,” said Tourism Secretary-designee Anne Sayers. “The thoughtful investment of recovery funds by Governor Evers helped many tourism businesses bounce back, while helping travelers make memories exploring our vibrant Main Streets.”

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, using $75 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, to help small businesses and communities grow by populating vacant storefronts with new businesses and nonprofits. The Governor recently announced an additional $25 million investment into the program, for a total investment of $100 million to help over 6,600 entrepreneurs open new businesses or expand their existing operations.

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.