JANESVILLE — Four Rock County nonprofits will share in $50 million in project grants announced Tuesday as part of a new statewide program.
Gov. Tony Evers announced the statewide awards Tuesday. The four Rock County projects, that collectively will get $5.5 million of that $50 million, include:
The Boys and Girls Club of Janesville, $1.75 million to help construct a new facility. The funds will provide dedicated classrooms for educational elementary programming, serve hot meals, and help meet the growing demand for affordable childcare in Janesville.The Children’s Museum of Rock County, in Janesville, $600,000 to construct a new museum in downtown Janesville. This will provide hands-on learning and early childhood development designed to inspire and educate kids in Rock County and beyond.KANDU Industries, in Milton, $1.2 million for its newly opened facility in Milton. This will help expand the programs for adults with disabilities and dementia and increase production in their facility.Family Services in Beloit, $2 million to construct the Next Steps Family Resilience Center. This will provide stable housing and comprehensive wraparound services for single-parent homeless families with young children.
Evers launched the new Non-State Grant Program in November 2023 to support local infrastructure improvement and community development projects across the state. The Wisconsin Department of Administration received overwhelming interest in the program, with more than 250 applications.
The grants aim to support critical infrastructure and services across key sectors such as health and wellness, economic and workforce development, arts and culture, and public services.
“An investment in local capital projects like these is an investment in local jobs and economies and improving public services and the quality of life for Wisconsinites statewide. I’m incredibly excited about these projects and the investments we’re making in communities in every corner of Wisconsin—this is great news for our state,” Evers said in a release Tuesday.
“From strengthening hospital and emergency response services to honoring local veterans and supporting our tourism industry, among so much more, I’m looking forward to getting these critical investments out to communities that need them so these good folks can get to work on projects that will help serve our local communities.”
Boys & Girls Club
Boys & Girls Club of Janesville CEO Rebecca Veium said its grant pushes it closer to reaching a campaign goal of $12 million. The campaign has raised, to date, about $8 million.
She said the new, larger building it envisions will allow more children to be served, and relegate fewer to wait lists.
“We turn away over 100 kids every year. It’s hard to tell parents no we don’t have the space for your child,” Veium said. “We are excited to have a big space for the kids and especially the teens, so parents know that when they are at work their kids are safe.”
Veium said the hope is to break ground in the spring 2025, pending the conclusion of the capital campaign. She said no contribution is too small.
“It’s remarkable but I think it shows how great the need is,” she said, regarding the 250 applications that were submitted statewide. “We are so grateful to the Department of Administration and State Building Commission for this opportunity and for investing in our club and community.”
KANDU Industries
Kathy Hansen, executive director of KANDU Industries, said Tuesday’s news felt like the Super Bowl, coming just a week after the grand opening of its new site in Milton.
“We are over the moon. It took a team of people to apply for the grant and we are just so excited that we were one of the nonprofits who were chosen,” Hansen said.
She said the money will help expand general day services programs for clients with Alzheimer’s and dementia and will help maintain the 30,000 square foot building KANDU just moved into.
She said KANUD is grateful for opportunities that the money provides to evolve and grow and be a pillar for the counties it serves.
Children’s Museum of Rock County
John Westphal, board president for the Children’s Museum of Rock County, said its capital campaign is now at $10.3 million after receiving the $600,000 state grant.
It puts the campaign over its $10 million public goal but the fundraising is continuing in an effort to build the best museum possible.
“It feels wonderful. Honestly, I feel mostly relieved that we were chosen and that this potential funding source has been a successful one,” Westphal said.
Westphal said the children’s museum board is continuing to explore other avenues for funding including various kinds of tax credits.
“I think we have a unique and awesome story to tell, and I stand with our purpose — educating the little kids of Rock County, creating an important tourism destination,” Westphal said.
“We are very grateful that all our state elected officials, local heads of government, and others wrote letters of support to the DOA for our cause,” he continued. “Although I think we wrote a stellar application, there is no doubt that the widespread support from these important individuals made a difference.”
State Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, who represents the 15th Senate District, shared his excitement Tuesday for the Rock County projects that were funded.
“I would like to thank Gov. Tony Evers, the Wisconsin Department of Administration, and the members of the State Building Commission for recognizing and supporting these crucial investments in our community,” Spreitzer said. “As a state senator, I was incredibly proud to support these exciting local projects throughout the state grant process. I look forward to seeing all that they will accomplish in our community.”
Local News
Comments / 0