Funding for Comprehensive Planning

Under the new Wisconsin Comprehensive Planning law, which was written and passed in 1999 with the support of a broad coalition led by 1000 Friends, every Wisconsin community is eligible for state financial support to pay about half of the costs of preparing a comprehensive plan as required in the new law. The first grant awards were made in 2000 and by March 2007, 964 counties,cities, villages, towns, regional planning commissions and tribes have received Comprehensive Planning Grants. Since 2000, $17.5 million in comprehensive planning grants has been awarded..

The grant awards are made in a competitive process under which communities need to demonstrate how they will meet the goals of the program, which include redevelopment of existing urban areas and main streets, protection of natural and historic resources, protection of farm and forest lands, providing transportation options beyond just the automobile, and building community identity.

Communities also need to address the interests of their neighboring communities, plan for Smart Growth Areas to which public infrastructure will be directed, develop ordinances to implement the plan, complete the plan within two and a half years, and provide opportunities for public participation throughout the process.

Now is the time for those of you who are interested in your community's land use future to get involved. Here's how you can get involved. First look at the State of Wisconsin - Department of Administration Comprehensive Planning Grant Program for the complete list of grant winners. If your community is on the list, contact your city, village or town hall or your county courthouse to find out who is in charge of coordinating the planning process. The law requires maximum public participation, so ask what their plan is for public involvement (the law required them to spell that out in the application for the planning grant). \

If your community is not on the list, contact your local government officials and ask what they are doing to comply with the state's new Comprehensive Planning law.

1000 Friends of Wisconsin
16 N. Carroll Street, Suite 810   Madison WI 53703    608.259.1000