Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022
Has Wisconsin invested the most pandemic aid money of any state in economic development?
Wisconsin is the U.S. state that has invested the most federal pandemic aid money in economic development and business assistance. As of August 2022, the state invested 56% of its funds (totaling over $1 billion) in economic development and 32% in grants to businesses, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Guam, a U.S. territory that also received pandemic aid, directed an even higher proportion to its economy: 57% in economic development and 52% in business assistance.
The federal government created the Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan to aid states' COVID-19 recovery. States have until 2024 to decide how they will use the funds, with the program allowing them a high degree of discretion. Other spending categories include infrastructure, health, welfare, education, public safety and the environment.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities How states can best use federal Fiscal Recovery Funds: Lessons from state choices so far
- State of Wisconsin Main Street Bounceback Grants press release
- US Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
About fact briefs
Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.
See all fact briefs
Wisconsin Watch, the news arm of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future investigative journalists. Its work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy.
Learn MoreLatest Fact Briefs
Do recent studies link water fluoridation with less dental decay in children?
Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
Are airline flights the safest mode of transportation in the U.S.?
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025