MADISON, WI – The State Assembly met on June 24 to approve a long list of proposals, including two bills introduced by State Rep. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake).
“The Assembly covered a lot of ground today, touching on subjects ranging from nuclear energy to training stipends for volunteer firefighters,” Representative Armstrong said. “I’m also happy to say that the Assembly passed two proposals that I worked on, one to help Wisconsin nonprofits access financing and one to help Wisconsin communities attract out-of-state households.”
Assembly Bill 63 makes several updates to the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority, which provides capital financing assistance to nonprofit organizations. Under AB 63, WHEFA will be able to finance working capital as well as capital projects, and it will also be able to finance out-of-state projects as long as the nonprofit has a Wisconsin presence.
“WHEFA is an important partner for nonprofits,” Representative Armstrong said, “and it carries out its mission through bonding, not tax dollars. Allowing WHEFA to finance projects outside of Wisconsin will help, for example, Wisconsin-based healthcare systems that acquire out-of-state systems or facilities. AB 63 will improve WHEFA’s service to nonprofits and, by extension, the communities those nonprofits serve.”
Assembly Bill 279 creates a grant program under the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for communities to establish talent recruitment programs to attract households from outside Wisconsin.
“Wisconsin already has a workforce shortage, and our population is projected to shrink over the next several decades,” Representative Armstrong explained. “As a county economic development director, I know how important it is to attract new families, and I think the talent recruitment program will help our communities to market themselves and provide incentives to households who are thinking about relocating but may be unsure where to move.”
AB 63 and AB 279 will now go to the Senate for further consideration. Like several other bills on today’s calendar, the AB 279 talent recruitment grant program will need to be funded through the state budget, which is still a work in progress.
Last Update: Jun 25, 2025 8:20 am CDT
