http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/school-bus-kids-s5.jpgWisconsin among 6 states selected; state to receive $35,000 grant, technical assistance from the NGA.

Rep. Gordon Hintz and Barnes scheduled to tour the planned wing renovation of the UW Oshkosh Nursing Education Building.

OSHKOSH – Today, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes will be in Oshkosh to tour the planned wing renovation of the UW Oshkosh Nursing Education Building (CLOW Hall). In early March, Governor Evers announced his 2021-23 Capital Budget proposal, which includes a recommendation of $26,974,000 for the completion of the second phase of the Nursing Education Building (Clow Hall Phase II) at UW Oshkosh. Representative Gordon Hintz issued the following statement welcoming Lt. Gov. Barnes to Oshkosh and highlighting the importance of the Clow Hall Phase II project:

“It is an honor to welcome my friend and former colleague, Lieutenant Governor Barnes, to the City of Oshkosh and the 54th Assembly District. I’m also glad to have an opportunity today to highlight the importance of completing the renovation of UW Oshkosh’s Clow Hall, which is a long overdue investment in our state’s future growth and success.”

“Over the past year, Wisconsinites have been reminded of the crucial role educators and nurses play throughout our state. We need their learning environment to reflect the advancements made in science and technology so they can receive 21st century training. I urge my colleagues on the Joint Finance Committee to approve the full Clow Hall recommendation when the Capital Budget comes before them later this spring. This cannot wait another biennium to be approved.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/covid-19-vaccine-drivethru-latimes-s5.jpgFifth DHS community-based vaccination clinic to open in Wisconsin.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/covid-19-restaurant-owner-s5.jpgEstimated 9,300 small businesses to receive $5,000 grants through ‘We’re All In’ program.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/technology/cellular-5g-s5.jpgSen. Jeff Smith writes about Governor Tony Evers’ efforts to expand broadband access with historic investments and innovative policies in his biennial budget.

Mass vaccination clinic to serve thousands at Alliant Energy Center

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that Madison’s COVID-19 mass vaccination site at the Alliant Energy Center will receive federal support beginning April 7. In coordination with state and local partners, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 5 will provide federal staff and support services to administer vaccinations. Wisconsin has committed to providing up to 7,000 weekly first-dose vaccines from the state’s allocation for the site. This federally-supported mass vaccination clinic will have the capacity to vaccinate 1,400 people per day.

“This is one of the largest vaccination efforts our state has undertaken and it takes teamwork at every level to ensure we are getting vaccine to everyone as quickly, fairly, and safely as possible,” said Gov. Evers. “I am grateful for FEMA’s support to our state and coordinating with our local partners to help our most vulnerable populations get the protection they need so we can all move forward from this pandemic.”

The Alliant Energy Center has been providing weekly vaccinations since December 29, 2020, and will receive 26 additional staff from the federal government. The additional federal support will increase the number of vaccinations per week from 5,600 doses up to 7,700 doses, dependent on vaccine supply.

“We are proud to partner with the State of Wisconsin to open a federally supported vaccine location in Madison,” said Kevin M. Sligh, acting Regional Administrator, FEMA Region 5. “This site will expand access for residents of the state’s capital and second largest city, and for those living in south central Wisconsin.”

“Collaboration has been key in our response to the pandemic, so I’m happy to welcome FEMA to Madison,” said Satya Rhodes-Conway, City of Madison Mayor. “I’m thankful for the partnership between the city, public health, Dane County, the state and the federal government that will speed up the process of getting folks vaccinated here in Madison.”

Public Health Madison and Dane County have worked closely with Dane County Emergency Management to coordinate community testing and vaccination efforts at the Alliant Energy Center.

“Dane County aggressively pursued this partnership with the state and FEMA to help get as many vaccines for this community in the quickest timeframe possible,” said Joe Parisi, County Executive. “The partnership we pulled together at the Alliant Energy Center served as a model for how to effectively test at community scale and now we can pivot that success to mass vaccinations.”

Anyone currently eligible for the vaccine will need to schedule a vaccination appointment in advance by visiting https://vaccinate.wi.gov or calling toll-free at 1-844-684-1064. The Alliant Energy Center is accessible by walk-up, bike-up, drive-thru, B-Cycle, and bus. For more information, including how to schedule a free ride, visit Public Health Madison and Dane County’s website.

The mass vaccination clinic is a joint effort between Public Health Madison and Dane County, Dane County Emergency Management, Dane County, City of Madison, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, the State of Wisconsin, and FEMA Region 5.

For up-to-date information about Wisconsin’s COVID-19 response, visit the DHS COVID-19 webpage. We encourage you to follow @DHSWI on Facebook, Twitter, or dhs.wi on Instagram for more information on COVID-19.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/entrepreneurs-s5.jpgVirtual listening session will cover investments in early education and childcare, K-12 schools, and higher education.

There have already been more than 320 wildfires reported in Wisconsin so far this year.

The governor and transportation secretary-designee are joined by Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg, La Crosse County Highway Commissioner Ron Chamberlain, Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers and Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary-designee Craig Thompson highlighted the governor's investments in Wisconsin's roads and infrastructure over the 2019-21 biennium and in the governor's Badger Bounceback agenda in a video message with local leaders. They were joined by Wausau Mayor Katie Rosenberg, La Crosse County Highway Commissioner Ron Chamberlain, and Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach, all of whom highlighted the impact these critical state funds have had on their local infrastructure and communities. 

The video message is available here. 

“Many of the state’s most important industries—such as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism—rely on our transportation system to move raw materials, products, and people. And as Wisconsin begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we will depend on our transportation system to boost our economic recovery,” said Gov. Evers in the video message. “[Our 2021-2023 budget proposal] includes increases in local road improvement programs that will help communities across Wisconsin, helps local transit systems buy new vehicles and expand their service areas, and makes it easier for communities to build the bicycle and pedestrian facilities that do so much to improve our quality of life. That’s what we’re really investing in when we invest in transportation—improving the quality of life for all the people of Wisconsin.”

“In the previous budget it included really an historic investment in transportation—revenue that hadn't been increased to that level in over a generation,” said Secretary-designee Thompson. “So, in the budget we're proposing this time around, there isn't the same level of increase in new revenue, but we did want to make sure that we didn't lose ground on all the projects we made in the last budget and that we would still be able to make some strategic investments in this budget.” 

“Any increases that we can get in the general transportation aids really goes a long way toward helping us maintain our current system, making sure that folks can get from point A to point B, and that the economic engine that is Wisconsin can keep moving and flowing,” said Highway Commissioner Chamberlain.

“We certainly have plenty of infrastructure projects in Brown County that would certainly be eligible candidates for those dollars,” said County Executive Streckenbach. “And infrastructure is the number one concern of our residents not only here in Brown County, but statewide.” 

“For so many years local government has heard that we're going to be cutting this, so it really does matter. We're able to plan a little bit better. We're able to get our teams out there fixing things,” said Mayor Rosenberg. “I love that you're talking about multimodal. When I think about transit that's really the important part so we can get people where they need to go, to jobs, to tourism— all of that. It's really important for us.”

The governor's 2021-23 biennial budget proposal includes a 4 percent increase over the biennium in general transportation aids for cities, villages, towns, and counties. This builds on the previous budget's historic investment of 10 percent and brings the amount of dollars allocated to this program to the highest level ever. The Badger Bounceback agenda also invests more than $565 million in the major highway program, provides $15 million to support floodproofing local roads and infrastructure, increases operations funding for local transit systems by 5 percent over the biennium, and supports electric vehicle charging stations, among several other proposals. More on the governor's budget proposal is available here.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/covid-19-travel-cdc-hill-s5.pngThe agency said fully vaccinated people do not need to get tested before or after domestic travel unless the destination requires it.