Press Release: Evers Administration Visit Highlights Close to $5 Million State Investments for Small Businesses in Appleton

STATE OF WISCONSIN

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

Tony Evers, Governor

Kathy Blumenfeld, Secretary-designee

Evers Administration Visit Highlights Close to $5 Million State Investments for Small Businesses in Appleton

Appleton, 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 Jake Woodford, and Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce vice president Jon Turke, as part of a visit to highlight state investments. Governor Tony Evers made a nearly $5 million investment in Appleton businesses, with nearly a $30 million business investment in Outagamie County, and an overall investment of more than $120 million to help families, businesses, and organizations in Outagamie County bounce back.

The officials visited three local recipients of the Main Street Bounceback grant, including Tiffani’s Bridal, All Tied Up Floral Café, and X-Golf Appleton. Leaders from the Appleton and Fox Valley business communities joined the visits to hear about the impact of the $10,000 grants and meet with business owners.

“Supporting our local communities starts on our Main Streets, which is why Governor Evers has made significant investments across the state to support local businesses,” said DOA Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld. “Making sure that our main streets can thrive, and that new businesses can start and flourish, is the first step to ensuring that our economy works for everyone.”

(LEFT) Tiffani's Bridal Owner, Tiffani Ebben speaks with Tourism Secretary-designee Anne Sayers, Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford, DOA Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld, and DOA Deputy Secretary Chris Patton during a Main Street Bounceback Tour in Appleton, Wis. on Tuesday, November 7, 2022. (RIGHT) Tiffany Ebben shows Secretary-designee Blumenfeld around her shop and discusses how Governor Evers' grant helped her business.

“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.”

(LEFT) Tourism Secretary-designee Anne Sayers, DOA Deputy Secretary Patton, and DOA Secretary-designee Blumenfeld listen to All Tied Up Floral Owner Aaron Phillipson describe how Governor Evers' Main Street Bounceback grants helped his business. (RIGHT) Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Pam Seidl, Appleton Downtown Inc. Executive Director Jennifer Stephany, Tourism Secretary-designee Sayers, All Tied Up Floral Cafe Owner Aaron Phillipson, DOA Secretary-designee Blumenfeld, and DOA Deputy Secretary Patton

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. More than 127 businesses in Appleton received the Main Street Bounceback grant.   

(LEFT) DOA Secretary-designee Blumenfeld speaks with X-Golf Appleton Co-owner Adam Landsverk about how Gov. Evers' Main Street Bounceback Grants helped their business. (RIGHT) DOA Deputy Secretary Chris Patton, DOA Secretary-designee Blumenfeld, X-Golf Co-owner Adam Landsverk, Tourism Secretary-designee Sayers, X-Golf Co-owners Shawn DeMain and Luke Larson

“Main Street Bounceback grants have provided critical support for entrepreneurs across the City of Appleton,” said Appleton Mayor Jake Woodford. “From grocers, to mental healthcare providers, to home businesses, restaurants, and everything in between – these grants are making our community stronger and more vibrant every day.”

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.