Idle Sites Redevelopment Program (WI) Grant

Idle Sites Redevelopment Program (WI) Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
Amount: Up to US $250,000
Last Updated: September 26, 2025

Summary

The Idle Sites Redevelopment Program by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) aims to rejuvenate abandoned or underused sites in Wisconsin. This program offers grants to local governments for redevelopment efforts, enhancing local economies and community quality of life. Eligible projects can utilize funds for demolition, environmental remediation, and infrastructure improvements, with a focus on transforming blighted properties into valuable community assets. Preference is given to projects in high-density urban areas.

Overview

NOTE: An interested applicant should contact a WEDC Account Manager to determine if their project is right for the program. Upon review of the project, and alignment with eligibility criteria, an applicant will be invited to submit their application through Network Wisconsin. Mission To strategically invest in Wisconsin to enhance the economic well-being of people and their businesses and communities Idle Sites Redevelopment Program Redeveloped idle industrial, institutional, and commercial sites can again become generators for economic development and an improved quality of life for the cities and communities where they are located. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC’s) Idle Sites Redevelopment Program helps communities pursue this opportunity. Purpose The program offers grants to Wisconsin communities for the redevelopment of sites that have been idle, abandoned, or underused for at least two years,  elevating local economies. Blighted properties may be perceived as eyesores that can lead to decreased property tax revenue for a community. Approved projects can use funds for demolition, environmental remediation, infrastructure or site-specific improvements to advance the site to shovel ready status or enhance the site’s market attractiveness.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Eligible Applicants: Idle Sites Redevelopment applicants must meet the following criteria:Be a city, village, town, county, government entity, or Tribal entity.If a private developer is participating in the project, provide a draft of a development agreement that describes the project and its goals, anticipated outcomes, project timeline, actions, obligations, and investments to be made by each party that must be executed prior to the first draw of funds.If the project does not have a private developer, provide an officially approved resolution that describes the project and its goals, anticipated outcomes, project timeline, and actions, obligations and investments necessary to achieve redevelopment.Provide a signed resolution by the governing elected body authorizing the submittal of an application to the ISR program.Demonstrate ownership of the targeted site or demonstrate the legal ability to access the property and perform the work proposed in the application.Propose a project site which is one of the following:one or more contiguous industrial parcels that exceed 4 acres and had long term (over 25 years) industrial usage; ORone or more contiguous commercial parcels that exceed 4 acres and had long term (over 25 years) commercial usage; for projects in an Economically Distressed community or Opportunity Zone, parcels need to exceed 2 acres; ORone or more contiguous institutional parcels that exceed 4 acres and had long term (over 25 years) institutional usage; properties of less than 4 acres may be considered when the property is located within a commercial corridor.Eligible Use of Funds: Idle Sites Redevelopment grants and matching funds can fund the following activities:Demolition.Environmental remediation.Rehabilitation and/or infrastructure improvements.Costs are only eligible to be applied to grant and matching fund expenses after WEDC approval.Matching:The applicant must provide matching funds at a rate of 3:1 of the Idle Sites Redevelopment Grant. The matching funds requirement is reduced to a rate of 1:1 of the Idle Sites Redevelopment Grant if the project is located in an Economically Distressed Community.Applicants may receive one award per fiscal year.

Ineligibility

Activities ineligible for program assistance or match include, but are not limited to:In-kind contributions.Costs of new construction.Indirect construction costs (a.k.a. “soft” costs).Environmental work occurring on properties in which the current owner is also a causer who possessed or controlled the contaminant(s) on the site.Acquisition costs (except that acquisition costs may be allowable for matching funds expenses).