WisconsinWisconsin allows limited sponsorships for events closed to the public
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation can sponsor events closed to the public if they draw national attention or contribute substantially to statewide or regional economic growth.
What it does
Events closed to the public can receive sponsorships if they meet national-attention or substantial economic-growth tests. Regularly scheduled Wisconsin events and events rotating within Wisconsin are excluded. This funding cannot exceed 25% of the program’s yearly allocation.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation must estimate expected economic benefits before awarding a sponsorship. Its annual report to lawmakers includes those estimates.
Applicants must match the proposed state sponsorship dollar for dollar. Their match can include cash, goods, or services, and state sources are allowed.
Argument forGiving qualifying offseason events special consideration could help communities draw visitors when local businesses have fewer customers.
Argument againstSponsoring events closed to the public could direct some program money toward gatherings that residents cannot attend.
More detail
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation may sponsor major events or opportunities closed to the public. Eligible applicants include local and tribal governments, visitor and convention bureaus, districts that support local businesses, and private applicants. Funding must support attracting or hosting the event or opportunity in Wisconsin. The agency must find that the event or opportunity will draw national attention to Wisconsin or contribute substantially to statewide or regional economic growth. Events or opportunities the agency finds are regularly scheduled in Wisconsin or rotate destinations within Wisconsin cannot receive this funding. The agency must give special consideration to initiatives it finds would occur during the tourist offseason or a period of economic need for Wisconsin. The 25% spending limit applies separately in each fiscal year.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation must estimate an event’s or opportunity’s expected economic benefits before awarding a sponsorship. The estimate covers direct and indirect economic benefits to Wisconsin. The agency’s report to the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance must include its estimate for each sponsorship awarded. The agency must submit the report by October 1 each year, covering the previous fiscal year.
Applicants must secure cash or contributions of goods or services equal to the proposed sponsorship amount. The matching requirement covers eligible applicants seeking funding through Wisconsin’s opportunity attraction and promotion sponsorship program. The matching contributions may come from state sources. Applicants must secure the matching contributions before the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation awards a sponsorship.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 2Published 4-3-2026Latest
- Apr 2Report approved by the Governor Tony Evers on 4-2-2026. 2025 Wisconsin Act 175Became Law
- Apr 1Presented to the Governor on 4-1-2026To Governor
- Mar 23Report correctly enrolled on 3-23-2026Minor
- Mar 19Representative Emerson added as a coauthor
- Mar 18Received from Senate concurred inMinor
- Mar 17Ordered immediately messaged
- Mar 17Read a third time and concurred inPassed Senate
- Mar 17Rules suspended to give bill its third reading
- Mar 17Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Mar 17Read a second timeMinor
- Mar 17Representative Billings added as a coauthor
- Mar 16Placed on calendar 3-17-2026 pursuant to Senate Rule 18(1)
- Vote recorded Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 16Public hearing requirement waived by committee on Senate Organization, pursuant to Senate Rule 18 (1m), Ayes 3, Noes 2
- Mar 6Representative Brown added as a coauthor
- Mar 3Available for scheduling
- Vote recorded Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 4, Noes 1. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 3Report concurrence recommended by Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development, Ayes 4, Noes 1Minor
- Feb 27Executive action taken
- Feb 11Read first time and referred to committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic DevelopmentMinor
- Feb 10Received from AssemblyMinor
- Feb 10Ordered immediately messaged
- Feb 10Representative Anderson added as a coauthor
- Feb 10Read a third time and passedPassed Assembly
- Feb 10Rules suspended
- Feb 10Ordered to a third readingMinor
- Feb 10Read a second timeMinor
- Feb 5Placed on calendar 2-10-2026 by Committee on Rules
- Jan 22Representative Udell added as a coauthor
- Jan 15Referred to committee on RulesMinor
- Vote recorded Report passage recommended by Committee on Tourism, Ayes 9, Noes 0. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 15Report passage recommended by Committee on Tourism, Ayes 9, Noes 0Minor
- Jan 14Executive action taken
- Jan 7Representative Joers added as a coauthor
- Jan 7Public hearing held
- 2025
- Dec 23Read first time and referred to Committee on TourismMinor
- Dec 23Introduced by Representatives Kurtz, Armstrong, Brill, Green, Kaufert, Kitchens, Mursau, Novak, Sinicki, Stubbs and Knodl; cosponsored by Senators Testin, Dassler-Alfheim, Feyen, Keyeski, Ratcliff, Spreitzer and TomczykIntroduced
Economy & Jobs