LRB-0877/2
FFK:wlj:jf
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
November 1, 2013 - Introduced by Representatives Barca, Ringhand, Bewley,
Kahl, Jorgensen, Goyke, Kolste, Wright, Berceau and Kessler,
cosponsored by Senators Lassa, Schultz, Lehman and Erpenbach. Referred
to Committee on Jobs, Economy and Mining.
AB477,1,2
1An Act to create 238.137 of the statutes;
relating to: entrepreneurial
2assistance grants and making an appropriation.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill authorizes the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
(WEDC) to award a grant of up to $3,000 to a new business for the business's
expenses related to hiring, as a paid intern, a student enrolled at an institution of
higher education who studies business, engineering, information technology, or a
similar field (entrepreneurial assistance grant). Under the bill, a new business is a
business organized in this state no earlier than five years before the business applies
for an entrepreneurial assistance grant. Additionally, if WEDC awards an
entrepreneurial assistance grant to three or more businesses to fund internships for
students enrolled at a single institution of higher education, and the institution
develops a program to support internships funded by these grants, WEDC may
award an additional grant of up to $25,000 to the institution. Finally, this bill
requires WEDC to allocate at least $125,000 in each fiscal year to fund grants
authorized under the bill and to submit a report on the effectiveness of those grants
to the legislature no later than February 1, 2017.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB477,1
3Section
1. 238.137 of the statutes is created to read:
AB477,2,1
1238.137 Entrepreneurial assistance grants. (1) In this section:
AB477,2,42
(a) "Institution of higher education" means an institution within the University
3of Wisconsin System, a technical college, or a private, nonprofit institution of higher
4education located in this state.
AB477,2,75
(b) "New business" means a business organized in this state on a date not more
6than 60 months before the date on which the business applies for a grant under sub.
7(2).
AB477,2,14
8(2) The corporation may award a grant of up to $3,000 to a new business for
9the business's expenses in hiring as a paid intern a student who is enrolled in an
10institution of higher education for the business to assist in conducting research,
11marketing, business plan development, or other functions relating to the creation of
12a new business. A recipient may use the grant under this subsection only for the
13recipient's expenses in hiring students in the field of business, engineering, or
14information technology or in a similar field, as determined by the corporation.
AB477,2,23
15(3) If the corporation awards grants under sub. (2) to 3 or more businesses to
16fund internships for students enrolled in a single institution of higher education, and
17the institution of higher education develops a program to facilitate internships
18funded with grants under sub. (2), the corporation may award a grant of up to
19$25,000 to the institution of higher education for costs associated with hiring interns
20under sub. (2), including faculty or staff time and curriculum development. If the
21corporation lacks sufficient funds to award grants to all qualified applicants, the
22department shall allocate available funds to applicants that have the greatest
23potential to create jobs in this state.
AB477,3,3
1(4) From the appropriations under s. 20.192 (1) (k) and (r), the corporation shall
2allocate at least $125,000 in each fiscal year to provide the grants under subs. (2) and
3(3).
AB477,3,5
4(5) The corporation shall actively pursue gifts and grants from private sources
5for funding grants under subs. (2) and (3).
AB477,3,8
6(6) Not later than February 1, 2017, the corporation shall submit to the
7legislature under s. 13.172 (2) a report evaluating the effectiveness of grants under
8subs. (2) and (3).
