Wisconsin restaurants, small businesses affected by COVID-19 to receive $45 million in assistance
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers.[ABC]
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced on Thursday with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) that restaurants and other small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive $45 million in assistance, bringing the total assistance distributed to Wisconsin businesses this year to more than $220 million.
The program will be administered by the Department of Revenue (DOR) in collaboration with WEDC. Unlike previous "We’re All In For Restaurants" program grants, businesses will not have to apply for the grants but will be identified and contacted directly by the DOR based on the businesses’ state tax records.
"Restaurants and other venues have been among the businesses hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. Evers said. “They’ve made the tough decisions to keep employees and customers safe by restricting indoor seating, offering delivery and curbside pick-up, and providing outdoor tables. We greatly appreciate the changes they’ve made to prioritize the health and safety of our communities, but now with winter coming, we are glad to provide this support at a critical time."
"We have all the systems in place to quickly disburse funding to these businesses who need it to get through the coming winter months," DOR Secretary Peter Barca said. "Our staff is ready to assist, and I am pleased we are able to help."
The program will target businesses with annual revenues of more than $1 million and less than $7 million. Previous state grant programs have focused on businesses with annual revenues of less than $1 million.
This is the third phase of the We’re All In grant program from WEDC to help businesses during the pandemic. The first phase provided more than $65 million in grants to more than 26,000 businesses statewide, while the second phase is currently disbursing more than $120 million to more than 24,000 small businesses statewide.
Funding for We’re All In programs comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which expires on Dec. 31. Additional federal funds for small businesses have not yet been approved.