Press Release: Gov. Evers Delivers Weekly Radio Address Highlighting Award of Over $18.6 Million in Grants to Wisconsin Municipalities for Public Improvement Projects Statewide

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 08/28/2025 10:00 AM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 28, 2025
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers Delivers Weekly Radio Address Highlighting Over $18.6 Million to Support Infrastructure Projects in 21 Communities Across Wisconsin
 
Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address highlighting the impacts of President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts on Wisconsin, including plans to gut a key federal program that helps Wisconsin’s rural communities improve and repair local infrastructure.

Earlier this week, Gov. Evers announced over $18.6 million to support community improvement projects in 21 communities, including projects improving or repairing local roads, drainage systems, water and sewer systems, sidewalks, and other public facilities on which the community relies, under a federal infrastructure program that President Trump plans to cut as part of his proposed fiscal year 26 budget.

Communities receiving a total of $18.6 million in awards include:
  • City of Abbotsford – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • City of Ashland – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • City of Augusta – $383,600 for sanitary sewer system infrastructure improvements and the construction of a new lift station; 
  • Village of Bagley – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Boyd – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Clyman – $1 million for water system, well, and water tower upgrades; 
  • City of Cornell – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • City of Cumberland – $412,672 for water main boring, relocation, and replacements; 
  • City of Gillett – $1 million for public facility improvements at Zippel Park; 
  • Village of Iron Ridge – $950,300 for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Lomira – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements;  
  • City of Markesan – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Milltown – $1 million for community center reconstruction and improvements; 
  • Village of Minong – $1 million for water system and wellhouse infrastructure improvements; 
  • City of Nekoosa – $956,151 for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Norwalk – $536,800 for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Village of Plum City – $442,800 for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • City of Prairie du Chien – $1 million for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; 
  • Town of Ridgeville – $1 million for construction of a new fire station for the Norwalk Area Fire District; 
  • City of Shullsburg – $945,333 for street and utilities infrastructure improvements; and 
  • Village of Soldiers Grove – $1 million for wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation and equipment replacements.

Wisconsin receives Community Development Block Grant Public Facilities (CDBG) program funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and distributes those funds toward public facility, housing, and economic development projects that benefit individuals with low and moderate incomes. The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) administers the CDBG program to support critical public infrastructure projects in low- to moderate-income communities with populations of 50,000 or fewer throughout the state.

President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget makes significant changes and cuts to several of HUD’s housing and community development programs, including eliminating the CDBG Program in its entirety. If passed, President Trump’s budget would have detrimental impacts on housing and community development efforts in Wisconsin, including efforts to make critical infrastructure repairs and upgrades, expand affordable housing, address homelessness, and more.

More information on the award of over $18.6 million through CDBG is available here.

Hey there, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.

This week, I’ve been traveling around the state visiting with communities that received $18.6 million in grants through our Community Development Block Grant Public Facilities Program. 

These funds are being awarded to 21 cities, towns, and villages across the state to support public improvement projects, like new sidewalks, wastewater treatment facilities, roads, and more.

What makes these funds so important is that they’re awarded to our smallest communities with populations under 50,000.

And this week, I’ve been out and about, visiting with the folks who will benefit from this crucial program.

From a new fire station in Ridgeville to street and utility improvements in Abbotsford and park facilities in Gillett—these projects connect the dots in our communities from housing and infrastructure to creating jobs and helping businesses.

And for many of our smallest, most rural municipalities, these funds are essential to helping get projects over the finish line.

Unfortunately, despite the importance of these funds to the success of our communities, Trump’s proposed budget makes significant changes and cuts to several of HUD’s housing and community development programs, including eliminating the Community Development Block Grant program in its entirety.

Should these dollars disappear, many of these communities would be left without the means to complete important infrastructure projects they need to thrive.

Folks, no matter what happens out in D.C., here in Wisconsin, we’re going to keep working to address our state’s aging infrastructure and build the strong, resilient, 21st-century infrastructure Wisconsinites deserve.

Thank you.  
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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