Gov. Doyle: Announces $6 million in additional flood relief funding

Contacts: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608-267-9661

Laura Smith, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162

MADISON — Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Wisconsin has received $6 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. This funding is designated for businesses affected by the June 2008 flooding. The application deadline is January 7, 2011.

“Wisconsin sustained significant damage from the 2008 floods, and our citizens and businesses are rebuilding with spirit and determination,” Governor Doyle said. “I worked hard with our federal delegation to bring additional funding to Wisconsin so that we can expedite our recovery efforts.”

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) administers the Small Cities CDBG Program and has already awarded $21 million for business assistance projects, including the flood proofing of Falk/Rexnord facility in Milwaukee and the relocation of several businesses out of the flood plain in Gays Mills. However, Commerce has recognized that there remains significant unmet need within the business sector resulting from the 2008 flooding. These additional funds are intended to provide long-term mitigation assistance as businesses complete their recovery.

Eligible applicants are units of general local government that are located in a county that was declared a federal disaster area under FEMA-DR-1768 WI. Applications are available at http://commerce.wi.gov/CD/docs/cd-boh-eap-app.doc. For a list of counties declared in the federal disaster area, visit http://commerce.wi.gov/NEWS/releases/2010/194-FEMAMap.pdf.

Please contact Caryn Stone at 608-267-3682 or Caryn.Stone@wisconsin.gov for additional information.