| MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that he has once again visited each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties in 2023, completing his fourth 72-county tour since taking office in 2019. Gov. Evers has visited all 72 Wisconsin counties in a year at least four times each since becoming governor, including in 2019, 2021, 2022, and now, 2023, as well as several counties in 2020 before the pandemic prevented travel for most of the year.
“The best and most important part of my job as governor is meeting with Wisconsinites where they’re at—their homes, communities, small businesses, schools and campuses, farms, and hospitals and clinics, and so much more—to hear about the issues that matter most to our state and find solutions to the challenges we face. An important part of that work is hearing from Wisconsinites in every corner of our state, and I’m proud this is my fourth 72-county tour of Wisconsin during my time as governor,” said Gov. Evers. “I’m incredibly grateful to all of the Wisconsinites who’ve welcomed me over the last year to their classrooms and campuses, small businesses, organizations, and everywhere in between. Our conversations together are why I’ll never stop working to do the right thing for Wisconsin and the people of our state, and I look forward to continuing our work to build the future we want for our state in 2024,” Gov. Evers concluded. Gov. Evers started the year by declaring 2023 “The Year of Mental Health” at his fifth annual State of the State Address in January, and in February, went on to propose significant investments in mental and behavioral healthcare, child care, public education, high-speed internet, the state’s workforce, and ensuring Wisconsinites have access to clean, safe drinking water, among other measures in his 2023-25 Budget Message. Throughout the year, Gov. Evers has traveled the state, meeting with Wisconsinites from all different backgrounds to hear about the good work they’re doing in their communities, the challenges they may be facing, and how the state can better support them. This included visiting dozens of child care centers as part of his special session call of the Legislature to invest in the Child Care Counts Program and pass a meaningful, comprehensive plan to address the state’s longstanding, generational workforce challenges. The governor also visited schools across the state to welcome students, teachers, and faculty back to school for the 2023-24 school year and embarked on his annual statewide “Pothole Patrol” tour, fixing Wisconsin’s roads with state and local public works and transportation professionals. Finally, the governor helped promote key wins for Wisconsin industries by taking part in events like National Tourism and Travel Week and celebrating the state’s record-breaking year for tourism, outdoor recreation, and apprenticeship. Brief highlights from some of Gov. Evers’ stops in each county are available below. Adams Ashland On March 21, Gov. Evers again visited Ashland County when he toured Memorial Medical Center, now Tamarack Health Ashland Medical Center, and their on-site critical access hospital and behavioral health unit. The visit highlighted his efforts to make significant investments to expand BadgerCare and ensure access to quality, affordable healthcare for Wisconsinites. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Barron Additionally, on April 4, Gov. Evers joined Rice Lake Mayor Justin Fonfara to tour local small businesses in Rice Lake. Last year, the governor awarded $3.1 million through the Neighborhood Investment Fund grant program to make improvements to Rice Lake’s Main Street corridor that will provide a safe route within the city for all users and revitalize the city’s historic downtown. Gov. Evers toured Poppy Popcorn Co., TWT Furniture and Gift Galleries, and The Milk Pail. Photos from this visit are available here, here, and here. Finally, on November 17, Gov. Evers returned to Rice Lake to help celebrate the reopening of Main Street and the completion of the city’s improvement project mentioned above. Photos from this event are available here and here. Bayfield On May 2, Gov. Evers toured the NorthLakes Community Clinic in Iron River. The clinic, which is a Federally Qualified Community Health Center, provides a variety of services, including primary medical, dental, and behavioral health, and was one of five organizations to receive a shared grant of $2.5 million from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) to focus on behavioral telehealth. These grant dollars are being used to recruit and retain psychiatrists trained to serve children through telehealth. Photos of the governor’s visit are available here and here. Brown On July 5, Gov. Evers traveled to Green Bay, following the signing of the 2023-25 budget, to host a press conference highlighting new initiatives and investments included in the budget. The press conference was held at LiveX, a Main Street Bounceback grant recipient and a service design, production, and broadcast company that uses innovative technologies to help increase engagement and build brands of businesses around the world. The governor was joined by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) Secretary and Executive Director Elmer Moore Jr., Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Craig Thompson, Mayor Genrich, and local labor union members. Photos of the event are here, here, and here. On August 14, Gov. Evers joined Packers CEO and President Mark Murphy and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for a press conference announcing that Green Bay will host the 2025 NFL Draft. The draft is projected to generate an estimated attendance of 240,000 visitors to Green Bay over three days, $20 million in local economic impact, and $94 million in statewide impact. Following the press conference, Gov. Evers stopped by to watch practice. Photos from the event are available here and here. Buffalo Burnett Calumet Chippewa On April 20, Gov. Evers visited Bloomer and toured Breezy Haven Farms. Breezy Haven Farms is part of the Red Cedar Conservation Farmers watershed protection group, which has received more than $80,000 through the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program since 2021. Photos from the events are available here and here. On May 9, during National Travel and Tourism Week, Gov. Evers and Tourism Secretary Sayers visited, with the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, the Leinenkugel Disc Golf Course in Chippewa Falls. The Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce received a $30,000 Tourism Capital Investment Grant to create the disc golf course to attract new visitors, as well as tournaments and other events to Chippewa Falls. The disc golf course can be used year-round as it has been specifically designed to be used for snowshoeing and ski trails in the winter months. Photos from the events are available here and here. On May 31, Gov. Evers, during his statewide “Pothole Patrol” tour, visited Chippewa Falls, where he repaired potholes on S. Michaud St. between E. Melby St. and S. Prairie View Rd. He was joined by WisDOT Assistant Deputy Secretary Joel Nilsestuen, city officials, and regional WisDOT staff. Photos from the event are available here and here. On July 6, Gov. Evers visited the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Greater Chippewa Valley-Chippewa Falls Center. Through the 2023-25 biennial budget, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wisconsin received an additional $5 million in funding to bolster their work supporting kids and working families. Photos of the governor’s visit are available here and here. On July 25, Gov. Evers joined local leaders and WisDOT for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Cobban Bridge. The Cobban Bridge closed in 2017 after a routine inspection noted some deficiencies. The construction project began in August 2022 and has since replaced the crumbling structure with a new structure. This was a $4.6 million construction project funded jointly by the state of Wisconsin and Chippewa County. Photos of the event are available here and here. Clark Columbia Crawford Dane On February 16, a day after Gov. Evers delivered his 2023-25 Biennial Budget Address, the governor, Lt. Gov. Rodriguez, DWD Secretary Pechacek, and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes visited and toured Fiskars in Middleton to hear about the company’s efforts to recruit and retain workers, including through their paid family leave program. Gov. Evers proposed creating a first-of-its-kind Wisconsin paid family leave program in his budget. After it was rejected by Republicans in the Legislature, this initiative became a major focus of the governor’s September special session. A photo from the visit is available here. On June 26, in celebration of June Dairy Month, Gov. Evers visited Fischerdale Holsteins in Verona, where he met with the Sarbacker family. While there, he took a tour of their farm and learned about the farm’s daily operations. Photos of the governor’s visit are available here and here. On July 28, Gov. Evers attended The Playing Field’s apprenticeship signing ceremony at the Plumbers Union Local 75 Madison Office. The governor joined DWD Secretary Pechacek, elected officials, local leaders, and community members for the event. The Playing Field, in partnership with Plumbers Union Local 75, is building a 15,000-square-foot early education site. The space will provide on-site child care to 100 kids for apprentices, as well as career training opportunities in both skilled trades and early education. Photos of the event are available here and here. On September 1, Gov. Evers visited Schenk Elementary School in Madison on the first day of school to welcome students, teachers, and staff back for the 2023-24 school year. Photos of the visit are available here and here. On September 20, Gov. Evers visited the Mariposa Learning Center in Fitchburg. The Mariposa Learning Center is a nationally accredited Spanish language child care center and, in partnership with the Oregon School District, offers a Spanish instruction 4K program. The governor called a special session of the Legislature to take place on September 20, urging them to pass his comprehensive workforce plan, including more than $340 million to continue the successful Child Care Counts Program, which has helped providers keep their doors open and lights on. At the time of the governor’s visit, Mariposa Learning Center had received $833,076 in Child Care Counts funding for both their main location and their 4K program since March 2020. A photo from the governor’s visit is available here. On November 15, Gov. Evers went on a ride with Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC) and members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen from DeForest to Madison to learn more about how freight moves in Wisconsin and across the country. A photo of the visit is available here. Dodge On April 25, Gov. Evers visited Beaver Dam Middle School in Beaver Dam to tour classrooms, meet with students and teachers, and highlight his 2023-25 budget recommendations to support K-12 schools, including improving reading and literacy outcomes, expanding access to mental health services and school nutrition, addressing staffing shortages to help keep class sizes small, and increasing per pupil and special education aids. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On August 30, while on his “Back to School” statewide tour, Gov. Evers visited the School District of Lomira and welcomed students, teachers, and staff back to school for the 2023-24 school year. The governor met with District Administrator Ty Breitlow, Principal Debra Janke, Principal Sandra Schaefer, and 5th grade teacher Cindy Paasch. A photo of the visit to Lomira is available here. Door On May 18, Gov. Evers visited Washington Island and visited Washington Island Electric Cooperative. The visit focused on expanding access to high-speed internet and the investments the Evers Administration has made across the state to increase and create broadband coverage. The Washington Island Electric Cooperative was provided a $104,331 grant from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) to help repair a damaged submarine electrical cable in 2019. Through the help of the grant, the co-op, in partnership with Nsight, was able to purchase a hybrid submarine cable that contained both an electrical cable and a fiber optic cable, helping to provide new access to high-speed internet on the island. While there, the governor also visited Washington Island Schools, where he met with students and staff, including Ms. Briesemeister, who has been teaching and caring for kids for more than 50 years. Photos of the event are available here and here. On June 7, Gov. Evers and Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld visited Jacksonport to meet with members of the Wisconsin Historical Society and toured and joined a boat ride at Lakeside Park. The Wisconsin Historical Society received a $29,434 grant from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, which will be used to expand Wisconsin’s documentation of maritime resources by locating, investigating, mapping, and evaluating the submerged and associated shoreline cultural resources associated with historic lumber and quarry piers of Door County. Photos of the visit are available here and here. Douglas On June 20, Gov. Evers visited the police department in Superior during a statewide tour highlighting legislation he had signed that morning that provided a historic increase in support to local communities statewide through shared revenue. Shared revenue is one of the most significant sources of funding provided by the state to local governments, and after months of negotiation, Gov. Evers and Republican leaders came to an agreement providing a generational increase in the state’s commitment to local communities and allowing for growth in the future by tying local government funding to the state sales tax. The governor was joined by Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) Secretary Peter Barca, State Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee), Superior Mayor Jim Paine, local elected officials, and community members. Photos of the event are available here and here. On June 30, Gov. Evers joined U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) in Superior for a press conference highlighting the importance of securing federal funding to replace the Blatnik Bridge, which connects Duluth, Minnesota, with Superior. The 2023-25 budget signed by Gov. Evers included a $400 million state investment for the reconstruction of the bridge. Photos of the event are available here and here. On September 7, Gov. Evers visited Northwestern High School in the School District of Maple as part of his “Back to School” statewide tour to welcome students, teachers, and staff back to school for the 2023-24 school year. Photos of the visit are available here and here. On November 16, Gov. Evers visited the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Superior to meet with future and current educators and highlight his comprehensive workforce plan that would have invested more than $16 million over the biennium to address the teacher shortage plaguing schools across the state, including funding for “grow your own” initiatives and incentives for student teachers. Photos of the visit are available here and here. Dunn On August 2, Gov. Evers visited and toured Milestones Early Educational Community in Menomonie. While there, the governor highlighted his efforts to prevent the child care industry’s collapse and ensure access to affordable child care statewide. The governor’s comprehensive workforce plan included a more than $365 million investment to continue the successful Child Care Counts and Partner Up! Programs at DCF. At the time of the governor’s visit, Milestones Early Educational Community had received $745,756 in Child Care Counts funding since March 2020. Photos of the visit are available here and here. On November 1, Gov. Evers visited UW-Stout, where he toured the Jarvis Hall Technology Wing to learn about UW-Stout’s polytechnic program and to highlight his efforts to bolster and support the UW System statewide. The governor’s comprehensive workforce plan included an additional more than $100 million investment in the state’s higher education institutions, including an additional more than $40 million to support the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) and an additional $66.4 million for the UW System to help recruit, train, and retain talent in an effort to bolster the state’s workforce. Photos of the visit are available here and here. Eau Claire On March 2, Gov. Evers and DOA Secretary Blumenfeld visited UW-Eau Claire, where they toured Phillips Science Hall and the proposed construction site of the new science and health building. Gov. Evers proposed several major projects at UW-Eau Claire in his 2023-25 Capital Budget, including $231 million to complete phase two of the new science and health building and demolish Phillips Hall, the old science and health building. Photos from the visit are available here. On March 28, Gov. Evers went on a tour of the Cortec Corporation facility in Eau Claire, highlighting efforts included in his 2023-25 budget proposal aimed at promoting sustainability and combatting climate change while providing the training and support to ensure Wisconsinites can meet the state’s clean energy and conservation workforce needs. The Cortec Corporation is a member of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Green Tier program, which recognizes environmental performance above and beyond minimal Wisconsin state regulatory requirements. A photo from the visit is available here. On June 29, Gov. Evers visited and attended the grand opening of the new Sojourner House in Eau Claire. The Sojourner House first opened its doors on November 1, 2011, and is a year-round facility that provides those who are experiencing homelessness a place to sleep overnight, shower, wash their clothes, and eat breakfast while ensuring their personal dignity, respect, and safety. The Sojourner House received a $1.5 million Neighborhood Investment Grant, which was used to create a space for increased social distancing in the shelter by updating handicap capabilities, enlarging the women’s dormitory, as well as allowing a second floor for offices to provide wraparound services. Photos of the event are available here and here. On October 2, Gov. Evers visited Beautiful Minds Child Care in Eau Claire during a statewide tour to highlight his comprehensive workforce plan, which included an investment of more than $365 million for the Child Care Counts and Partner Up! Programs at DCF to help prevent the collapse of the state’s child care industry and ensure access to quality, affordable child care statewide for working families. At the time of the governor’s visit, Beautiful Minds Child Care had received $888,825 in Child Care Counts funding since March 2020. Photos of the visit are available here and here. On November 16, Gov. Evers toured UW-Eau Claire’s Nursing School and visited with nursing students and staff. While there, the governor highlighted his comprehensive workforce plan, which included an investment of approximately $160 million to address healthcare workforce shortages across the state. The governor was joined by Kim Wellnitz, a professor at UW-Eau Claire and an American Federation of Teachers member. Photos of the visit are available here and here. On November 28, Gov. Evers visited Feed My People Food Bank in Eau Claire to highlight Giving Tuesday. Feed My People serves 14 counties in Wisconsin and rescues nationally and regionally donated food from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and growers that might otherwise be thrown away. During the pandemic, Gov. Evers created the Food Security Initiative using federally allocated ARPA funds. Feed My People received $1,372,571 in food purchases from Feeding Wisconsin’s ARPA Food Security Initiative funds, along with $172,021 of Feeding Wisconsin’s infrastructure/equipment funds, which were distributed to meet the needs of their pantry network. Photos of the visit are available here and here. Florence Fond du Lac On August 16, Gov. Evers attended the FONDY C.A.R.E.S Meet and Greet event, which was hosted by the Fond du Lac School District. FONDY C.A.R.E.S (community access, responding, and empowering students) is an in-school mental health clinic that supports the entire Fond du Lac student body. Gov. Evers declared 2023 the Year of Mental Health, and the event provided an opportunity for the governor to celebrate the good work happening in the Fond du Lac School District to support students’ mental health and underscore the importance of addressing this burgeoning crisis. A photo from the event is available here. Forest On September 5, Gov. Evers visited the Laona School District as part of his statewide tour to welcome students, teachers, and staff back to school for the 2023-24 school year. Photos of the event are available here and here. Grant On May 25, Gov. Evers kicked off his annual “Pothole Patrol” Tour in Platteville, helping repair potholes on Sowden St. between Jefferson St. and N. Water St and highlighting his administration’s efforts to improve local roads and highways. Since 2019, the administration has repaired or improved more than 7,400 miles of road and 1,780 bridges statewide. The governor was joined by WisDOT representatives and local officials. Photos from the event are available here and here. On August 10, during a statewide tour highlighting the need for ongoing, meaningful investments in the state’s child care industry, Gov. Evers visited Giggles and Wiggles Daycare Center in Lancaster. Giggles and Wiggles Daycare Center was the second-largest child care provider in Lancaster before it closed its doors in August, citing staffing shortages and the uncertainty around additional financial support from the state as reasons for closing. Photos of the visit are available here and here. Green On September 25, Gov. Evers continued his statewide tour of childcare centers across the state to highlight the Child Care Counts Program and his comprehensive workforce plan to invest more than $365 million to prevent the child care industry’s imminent collapse and ensure access to affordable child care statewide for working families. The governor toured The Nurturing Tree Early Learning Academy in Brodhead, a center that focuses on nurturing the emotional, intellectual, and physical growth of children through stimulating, hands-on experiences. Photos from the tour are available here and here. Green Lake Iowa Iron Jackson On April 6, Gov. Evers traveled to Black River Falls and met with leaders from the Ho-Chunk Nation and discussed updates on their Neighborhood Investment Fund grant. The Ho-Chunk Nation received over $11.8 million to develop 28 affordable small-home units and 10 supportive housing units in order to reduce overcrowding in low-income rental communities operated by the Ho-Chunk Housing and Community Development Agency. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Jefferson Juneau Kenosha On June 14, in celebration of June Dairy Month, Gov. Evers took a tour of the Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha. The Mars Cheese Castle has been a family-owned Wisconsin staple since it first opened in 1947 and has a specialty market offering more than 700 cheeses, wines, and items from Wisconsin and around the world, as well as an in-house bakery, restaurant, and pub. Photos from the tour are available here, here, and here. On July 17, Gov. Evers joined WisDOT officials and community leaders to celebrate improvements to Wisconsin Highway 50 (WIS 50) in Kenosha County. Work began in early 2021 to reconstruct four miles of WIS 50 between 117th Ave. in Pleasant Prairie and 43rd Ave. in Kenosha. The finished project improves access to adjacent hospitals, eases traffic flow in a dense commercial shopping area, and enhances regional mobility in an active freight corridor. Since 2019, the Evers Administration has repaired or improved more than 7,400 miles of road and 1,780 bridges statewide. Photos from the ribbon-cutting celebration are available here and here. On August 31, Gov. Evers visited Bristol School on their first day of school as part of his “Back to School” tour, welcoming students, teachers, and staff back for the 2023-24 school year. Photos of the governor’s visit are available here and here. On October 18, Gov. Evers visited UW-Parkside, where he met with students and staff in the school’s teacher education program and visited the school’s healthcare career fair. While there, the governor highlighted his comprehensive workforce plan, which would have provided more than $175 million in investments to support and bolster the state’s healthcare and education workforce sectors. Additionally, the governor’s plan included an additional more than $100 million investment in the state’s higher education institutions, including an additional more than $40 million to support the WTCS and an additional $66.4 million for the UW System to help recruit, train, and retain talent in an effort to bolster the state’s workforce. Photos from the governor’s visit are available here and here. Kewaunee La Crosse On March 13, Gov. Evers visited Holmen High School in Holmen to hear about the school district’s Student Universal Nutrition Program, which works to educate students on the importance of healthy eating habits. The governor’s 2023-25 biennial budget proposal included $120 million for his “Healthy Meals, Healthy Kids” initiative to provide universal school breakfast and lunch to help prevent kids from being hungry at school and ensure students can come to class coursework ready. Unfortunately, this initiative was not included by legislative Republicans in the final budget. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On May 2, Gov. Evers toured the Coulee Recovery Center in La Crosse. Coulee Recovery Center is a peer-run respite facility that provides help to individuals and families impacted by addiction and provides substance misuse education, prevention, and awareness to the community as a whole. In 2021, the center was awarded $30,000 annually for five years through a peer recovery center grant from DHS. During his 2023 State of the State Address, Gov. Evers declared 2023 the Year of Mental Health and called the state of mental health in Wisconsin a burgeoning crisis that requires the state’s urgent action and attention. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On May 8, Gov.Evers celebrated the start of National Travel and Tourism Week with a tour of the Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse. The Pump House was founded in 1977 and strives to bring visual, performing, and literary arts to the La Crosse area. The Pump House received $288,140 from a Tourism Capital Investment Grant to improve and update the restroom facilities and replace the chairs in the theater. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On May 31, Gov. Evers finished his annual statewide “Pothole Patrol” tour with a stop to Onalaska, where he repaired potholes at the intersection of Lake St. and 8th Ave. N. Additionally, in Onalaska, Gov. Evers and local officials held a press conference to promote work zone safety and safe driving habits. Since 2019, the Evers Administration has repaired or improved more than 7,400 miles of road and 1,780 bridges statewide. Gov. Evers has previously gone on “Pothole Patrol” tours during his time in office, including in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Photos from the event are available here and here. Lafayette Langlade Lincoln On December 18, Gov. Evers visited Merrill High School to meet with students, teachers, and faculty to discuss student mental health and talk about the student-led program, “Raise Your Voice.” Raise Your Voice is a youth program that was launched by the National Alliance on Mental Illness Wisconsin to support and empower youth to speak about mental health. Raise Your Voice Club at Merrill High School began in the spring of 2020. Student leaders were recruited for their interest in mental health and received training on the topic. Beginning with only eight students, Raise Your Voice grew quickly to over 100 members. In the first two years, over 150 Raise Your Voice members received training on how to support a peer who is struggling and additional training on adolescent mental health provided by mental health professionals. Photos of the visit are available here and here. Manitowoc On September 22, Gov. Evers continued his statewide tour of child care providers, urging the Legislature to invest in child care to prevent the industry’s imminent collapse and ensure access to affordable child care for working families. The governor visited the Manitowoc-Two Rivers YMCA, where he spoke with local business leaders about the importance of child care and toured the facility. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Marathon On April 21, in celebration of Earth Day, Gov. Evers and Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg toured the city of Wausau’s drinking water treatment facility, which is doing innovative work to make the city’s water PFAS-free. Following this tour, they went to Marathon County Park and planted a White Pine tree, contributing to the city’s efforts to add a population of White Pine trees to Marathon County Park. Additionally, they also visited Rib Mountain State Park for a hike with local stakeholders, members of the Friends of Rib Mountain State Park organization, and DNR staff. Photos from the governor’s visit to Wausau for Earth Day are available here, here, and here. On June 20, Gov. Evers signed Assembly Bill 245, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 12, at the Fire Department Station 2 in Wausau, providing a historic increase in support to local communities statewide through shared revenue. Shared revenue is one of the most significant sources of funding provided by the state to local governments, and after months of negotiation, Gov. Evers and Republican leaders came to an agreement providing a generational increase in the state’s commitment to local communities and allowing for growth in the future by tying local government funding to the state sales tax. The governor was joined by DOR Secretary Barca, State Sen. Johnson, and Mayor Rosenberg, as well as other legislators, local elected officials, and stakeholders. Photos from the event are available here and here. On August 2, continuing his tour urging the Legislature to invest in child care statewide to prevent the industry’s imminent collapse and support working families, Gov. Evers visited and toured the Woodson YMCA Aspirus Child Care Center in Weston. At the time of the governor’s visit, the center had received $921,789 in Child Care Counts funding since March 2020. The Child Care Counts Program has been a lifeline for local providers, providing the resources and support needed to keep their lights on and staff paid and ensuring they can continue to provide care for working families. Photos from the event are available here and here. Marinette Marquette Menominee Milwaukee On March 1, during a statewide tour highlighting his 2023-25 Capital Budget recommendations, Gov. Evers and DOA Secretary Blumenfeld visited the African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin in the Bronzeville Neighborhood of Milwaukee to highlight the governor’s proposal to provide $5 million to support the construction of the Bronzeville Center for the Arts’ African American Art Center. The African American Art Center will educate, celebrate, and support African American artists from across the state and beyond to attract new visitors to the city of Milwaukee and Wisconsin. While legislative Republicans did not include the Bronzeville project in the final budget sent to the governor’s desk, in November, the governor announced a $36.6 million investment into building projects across the state, including $5 million for this important project. A photo from the governor’s visit to the Bronzeville Neighborhood is available here. On April 18, Gov. Evers and DWD Secretary Pechacek visited Milwaukee’s Arborist Apprenticeship Program, which is a partnership between the Urban Forestry Department at the DNR and DWD. They spoke with crews while they worked on E. Oklahoma Ave. in the Bayview Neighborhood. The city of Milwaukee has received more than $23,000 from the DNR through their Urban Forestry Grant Program to continue their workforce development and the Arborist Apprenticeship program. Photos from the events are available here and here. On May 30, Gov. Evers continued his annual statewide “Pothole Patrol” tour with a stop in Brown Deer, where he repaired potholes on N. 51st St. between W. Brown Deer Rd. and W. Green Brook Dr. Since 2019, the Evers Administration has repaired or improved more than 7,400 miles of road and 1,780 bridges statewide. Gov. Evers has previously gone on “Pothole Patrol” tours during his time in office, including in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Photos from the event are available here and here. On August 8, Gov. Evers hosted a press conference at Tiny Green Trees Nature Based Childcare Center in Milwaukee, where he announced he was calling a special session of the Legislature on September 20 to complete their work on the 2023-25 budget and pass his comprehensive workforce plan. The governor’s plan included investments to increase access to affordable child care and prevent the child care industry’s collapse, expand paid family leave, educate and train future workers, and support high-need workforce sectors statewide. Photos of the governor’s event are available here and here. On August 25, Gov. Evers attended and gave remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 50th Annual Mexican Fiesta, where the governor highlighted the importance and impact the Latino and Hispanic communities have in Milwaukee and across the state. Mexican Fiesta is sponsored by the Wisconsin Hispanic Scholarship Foundation Inc., a nonprofit organization servicing the Wisconsin Hispanic community. Each year, the event raises funds to provide scholarships for higher education for Wisconsin students and to maintain a diversity of cultures by having a truly authentic festival. Photos of the event are here and here. On December 5, at American Family Field, Gov. Evers signed two bipartisan bills, Assembly Bill 438, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 40, and Assembly Bill 439, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 41, to keep the Milwaukee Brewers and Major League Baseball in Wisconsin through 2050. The bills were passed with broad, bipartisan support after months of collaboration and negotiations between the Office of the Governor, members of the Legislature, the Brewers, Milwaukee County, the city of Milwaukee, and local stakeholders and partners. Photos of the event are here and here. Monroe Oconto Oneida On August 8, Gov. Evers visited the YMCA of the Northwoods in Rhinelander to continue his statewide tour, urging the Legislature to invest in child care statewide to prevent the industry’s imminent collapse and ensure affordable care for working families. The governor’s comprehensive workforce plan included investing more than $365 million to support the successful Child Care Counts and Partner Up! Programs at DCF. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On August 31, Gov. Evers visited Rennes Health and Rehab Center in Rhinelander to highlight his comprehensive workforce plan to invest approximately $160 million to bolster and expand the state’s healthcare workforce, including $6 million for the WisCaregiver Careers program. The WisCaregiver Careers program aims to address the shortage of certified nursing assistants in the state by supporting the recruitment, training, and retention of individuals to care for nursing home residents across Wisconsin. Through the WisCaregiver Program, Rennes Health and Rehab Center trained over 150 Certified Nursing Assistants. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Outagamie On April 6, Gov. Evers and WHEDA Secretary and Executive Director Moore toured COTS Inc. in Appleton. COTS Inc. is a transitional shelter helping individuals experiencing homelessness in the Fox Valley that received $50,000 from the WHEDA Foundation Housing Grant Program. This grant provides funding to make physical improvements to facilities owned by nonprofits that house vulnerable populations and those at risk of homelessness. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On July 6, Gov. Evers visited the Appleton International Airport in Appleton to highlight $7 million in funding from the 2023-25 budget signed by Gov. Evers for improvements as part of the airport’s terminal expansion project. Photos from the event are available here and here. On August 8, Gov. Evers visited the Appleton YMCA Child Care Center during a statewide tour, urging the Legislature to invest in child care statewide to prevent the industry’s imminent collapse and ensure affordable care for working families. Earlier that same day, Gov. Evers had called a special session of the Legislature to pass his comprehensive workforce plan, which included a more than $365 million investment in the successful Child Care Counts and Partner Up! Programs at DCF. Photos of the governor’s visit are available here and here. On November 30, Gov. Evers visited Appleton to promote and celebrate “Shop Small Wisconsin,” an initiative that promotes shopping at small, local businesses during the holiday season. Gov. Evers visited five small businesses, including Lawless Coffee, Eroding Winds, Olive & Rose Boutique, Uni Uni Bubble Tea, and Trending Topic. Several of the businesses visited were recipients of the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program. To date, the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program has helped more than 9,400 small businesses expand or move into storefronts in all 72 counties across the state, including in Outagamie County, where 297 businesses have received grants. Photos of the governor’s visits are available here, here, and here. Ozaukee Pepin Pierce On October 2, Gov. Evers visited UW-River Falls, where he met with students and staff in the school’s education program. While there, the governor highlighted his comprehensive workforce plan, which would have provided more than $16 million in investments to support and bolster the state’s education workforce. Additionally, the governor’s plan included an additional more than $100 million investment in the state’s higher education institutions, including an additional more than $40 million to support the WTCS and an additional $66.4 million for the UW System to help recruit, train, and retain talent in an effort to bolster the state’s workforce. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Polk Portage On June 6, during a statewide tour celebrating another record-breaking year for Wisconsin tourism, Gov. Evers traveled to Stevens Point and visited the Stevens Point Sculpture Park. The Stevens Point Sculpture Park is a 20-acre park featuring art installations from both local and national artists. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On October 10, Gov. Evers joined Family Health La Clinica in Stevens Point for a ribbon-cutting celebration. Family Health La Clinica received $6.95 million through the Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant Program to expand its healthcare services and build a new facility in Stevens Point. Through the awarded grant funding, the clinic will be able to offer medical and behavioral health services and expand dental, optometry, pharmacy, and rehabilitative services. Photos from the event are available here and here. On November 30, Gov. Evers visited Plover for the Food and Farm Exploration Center’s Grand Opening. The Food and Farm Exploration Center received a $3 million grant through the 2023-25 biennial budget signed by Gov. Evers to support the completion of this project. A photo of the event is available here. Price On July 11, Gov. Evers attended the rebuild kickoff event for the Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls in Park Falls. In 2022, Marshfield Medical Center-Park Falls was awarded a $20 million Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Investment Grant to help address the facility’s aging infrastructure, improve outdated inpatient rooms, create a dedicated urgent care space, and bring new sleep study and retail pharmacy services to the hospital. Photos of the event are available here and here. Racine On March 30, Gov. Evers, together with Racine Mayor Cory Mason, toured one of the city of Racine’s affordable housing units and participated in a roundtable discussion with staff and community members regarding the city’s affordable housing programs. The city of Racine received a $15 million grant through the governor’s Neighborhood Investment Fund Grant Program for the Lincoln-King Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, which will provide new affordable housing in the community. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On June 7, Gov. Evers and DOA Secretary Blumenfeld visited Racine and met with Mayor Mason, representatives from the Racine Public Health Department, and other city officials. Racine received a $26,400 grant from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program to fund the installation of a scenic platform for wetland viewing at Samuel Myers Park. Racine has been restoring the park since 2014, including creating wetlands, dunes, prairies, rain gardens, and pathways, and the park now serves as a restored coastal wetland and gateway for environmental education about invasive species, climate change, and nonpoint source pollution. Photos from the event are available here and here. On September 22, Gov. Evers visited Small World Montessori, celebrating their 50th year of operation in September 2023 and continuing his statewide tour of childcare centers across the state to highlight the Child Care Counts Program and his comprehensive workforce plan to invest more than $365 million to prevent the child care industry’s imminent collapse and ensure access to affordable child care statewide for working families. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Richland Rock On April 20, Gov. Evers and DATCP Secretary RandyRomanski visited W. Hughes Farms in Janesville. Farm owner Willie Hughes is president of Farmers on the Rock, a non-profit farmer-led organization focused on using innovative and sustainable production practices that improve water quality and environmental sustainability. Farmers on the Rock had previously received more than $60,000 through the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program to support their conservation efforts. A photo from the visit is available here. On November 27, Gov. Evers visited Beloit to promote and celebrate “Shop Small Wisconsin,” an initiative that promotes shopping small during the holiday season. Gov. Evers visited four businesses, including Bushel and Peck’s, Walnut Creek Apparel and Gifts, Flying Pig, and The Nest Egg. Several of the businesses visited were recipients of the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program. To date, the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program has helped more than 9,400 small businesses expand or move into storefronts in all 72 counties across the state, including in Rock County, where 171 businesses have received grants. Photos of the governor’s visits are available here, here, and here. Rusk Sauk On May 3, Gov. Evers joined DATCP Secretary Romanski for a roundtable discussion at Valley Springs Farm Bed and Breakfast in Reedsburg to discuss farmer mental health with members of the Farmer Angel Network, which is a local organization focused on mental wellness and suicide prevention in rural communities. In his 2023 State of the State Address, Gov. Evers declared 2023 the Year of Mental Health and called the state of mental health in Wisconsin a burgeoning crisis that requires urgent action and attention. Photos from the event are available here and here. On October 9, Gov. Evers attended the Indigenous Peoples’ Day of Sauk County 2023 event hosted by the Ho-Chunk Nation and the Sauk County Historical Society at the Aldo Leopold Foundation to celebrate and recognize the vast historical and cultural contributions of Indigenous people to the state. Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #50 in 2019 to annually designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day, and this year marks the fifth consecutive year that Wisconsin has celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day. Photos of the event are available here and here. On November 22, Gov. Evers traveled to Baraboo to promote and celebrate “Shop Small Wisconsin,” an initiative that promotes shopping small during the holiday season. Gov. Evers visited Etcetera by BLH, the Village Booksmith, which is owned by the Baraboo Mayor Rob Nelson, Nautical Coffee Co., Spirit Lake Trading Company, and Bekah Kate’s. Several of the businesses were also recipients of the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program. To date, the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program has helped more than 9,400 small businesses expand or move into storefronts in all 72 counties across the state, including Sauk County, where 76 businesses have received grants. Photos of the governor’s visits are available here, here, here, and here. Sawyer On April 26, Gov. Evers and WEDC Secretary and CEO Hughes visited the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School in Hayward and announced a Fabrication Laboratories (fablab) grant for the school. This is the first ever fab lab grant delivered to a Tribal school in Wisconsin. WEDC is providing a grant of $19,920 for the creation of a fab lab and expanded programming within the school. Photos from the event are available here and here. On August 10, Gov. Evers joined DWD for an event in Hayward at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University as part of the department’s Winning with Wisconsin’s Workforce series. These events provide an opportunity for regional workforce development boards, employers, DWD, and community leaders to come together to showcase the state’s economic strengths and find opportunities to support local workforce development. The Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians previously received up to $4.6 million in grants through the Workforce Innovation Grant Program to support local water infrastructure at a 32-unit workforce housing development. Photos from the event are available here and here. Shawano Sheboygan St. Croix On August 25, Gov. Evers joined the New Richmond community for the dedication ceremony of the local New Richmond Post Office. At the ceremony, the building was renamed the “Captain Robert C. Harmon and Private John R. Peirson Post Office.” Captain Harmon and Private Peirson were brothers from New Richmond who both served and made the ultimate sacrifice in World War II. Photos of the event are here and here. Taylor Trempealeau Vernon On June 21, Gov. Evers visited Hamburg Hills Farm in Stoddard, a family-owned, organic dairy farm, to sign Senate Bill 247, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 13. Act 13 expands the Local Roads Improvement Program to include agricultural road improvement projects by creating the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program. This move by the governor to help support local agricultural road improvement projects statewide comes one day after he enacted 2023 Wisconsin Act 12 to provide a historic increase in state support to local communities across Wisconsin. Photos from the bill signing in Stoddard are available here and here. On June 26, in celebration of June Dairy Month, Gov. Evers visited Organic Valley’s Chaseburg Creamery in Chaseburg, where he was joined by DATCP Secretary Romanski. During their visit, they met with Organic Valley leadership, employees, and farmer-members of the cooperative, learned about the butter-making process, and sampled some of Organic Valley’s award-winning butter. Photos of the visit are available here and here. Vilas Walworth On September 6, Gov. Evers visited UW-Whitewater to help kick off the school year. While there, he visited with staff on campus and highlighted his comprehensive workforce plan, which included an additional more than $100 million investment in the state’s higher education institutions, including more than $40 million to support the WTCS and an additional $66.4 million for the UW System to help recruit, train, and retain talent in an effort to bolster the state’s workforce. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On November 27, Gov. Evers visited Delavan to promote and celebrate “Shop Small Wisconsin,” an initiative that promotes shopping small during the holiday season. The governor visited LSJ Music Company, Brick Street Protein Deluxe, La Guanajuato Mexican Food Store, Brick Street Yarn, and Oficina de Multi-Servicios Delavan. Several businesses received grants through the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program. To date, the Main Street Bounceback Grant Program has helped more than 9,400 small businesses expand or move into storefronts in all 72 counties across the state, including Walworth County, where 116 businesses have received grants. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Washburn Washington Additionally, on August 16, Gov. Evers visited Little Folks School House in Kewaskum. While there, the governor was highlighting his efforts to prevent the child care industry’s collapse and ensure access to affordable child care statewide. At the time of the governor’s visit, Little Folks School House had received $584,014 in Child Care Counts funding since March 2020. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Waukesha On April 7, Gov. Evers and WHEDA Secretary and Executive Director Moore visited Waukesha to tour and visit the Juno House, one of two houses owned by Hebron Housing Services. Juno House is a temporary home for women and families who find themselves without housing. Hebron Housing Services received $15,000 from the WHEDA Foundation Housing Grant Program to replace the roof and facia for Juno House. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On July 27, Gov. Evers continued his visits to highlight the need for meaningful investments in child care statewide to support working families and prevent the industry’s imminent collapse with a visit to Quad Care in Sussex. Quad Care is a child care service for both Quad employees and community members. The governor proposed in his budget providing more than $340 million to make the successful Child Care Counts Program a permanent program and more than $22 million to support the Partner Up! Program at DCF. These proposals would later become major focuses of the governor’s comprehensive workforce plan in his September Special Session of the Legislature. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Waupaca On August 24, Gov. Evers attended the Waupaca County Fair and gave remarks at their recognition luncheon, where the governor received the 2023 Friend of the Waupaca County Fair award. The governor received this award for his support during the pandemic, which allowed them to continue their annual fair. Waupaca County Fair Inc. received $45,342.22 in Cultural Grant Awards and $200,000 in Event Venue and Live Event Small Business Assistance grants through federal relief funds. Photos from the event are available here and here. Waushara Winnebago On May 19, Gov. Evers visited and met with representatives from the U.S. Internet Light the Lake Project to tour their site in Butte Des Morts. U.S. Internet has received more than $5.8 million in Broadband Expansion Grants to support the Light the Lake Project, which has helped connect thousands of unserved and underserved homes and businesses to new or improved high-speed internet across Winnebago County. Photos from the visit are available here and here. On June 6, Gov. Evers and Tourism Secretary Sayers hosted a press conference at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh to announce the state had seen another record-breaking year for tourism in 2022, with the tourism industry generating $23.7 billion in total economic impact. Photos from the event are available here and here. On July 19, Gov. Evers visited the Boys and Girls Club of Menasha to continue urging the Legislature to invest in affordable, accessible child care statewide. Additionally, the 2023-25 budget signed by Gov. Evers provided an increase of $5 million for Boys and Girls Clubs across Wisconsin. This funding will ensure Boys and Girls Clubs can continue their much-needed work supporting kids and providing out-of-school programming, which is critical for working families to ensure kids have safe, supportive places to go and to help parents stay in the workforce. Photos from the visit are available here and here. Wood On March 15, Gov. Evers visited the Marshfield Clinic Health System YMCA to highlight proposed investments in his 2023-25 biennial budget to bolster child care and out-of-school programming statewide for working families. The governor proposed in his budget providing more than $340 million to make the successful Child Care Counts Program a permanent program and more than $22 million to support the Partner Up! Program at DCF. These proposals would later become major focuses of the governor’s comprehensive workforce plan in his September special session of the Legislature. Photos from the event are available here and here. |
| An online version of this release is available here. |
Gov. Evers Completes Annual 72-County Tour of Wisconsin
Jan 3, 2024 | 7:20 AM
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