MADISON, Wis. - Gov. Tony Evers' two-year state budget will include $43 million in spending designed to help the state's rural economy, he announced Friday.
Evers, a Democrat, submits his budget to the Republican-controlled Legislature on Feb. 16, which will take the next several months rewriting it before passing their version sometime in the summer.
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Evers' plan includes many of the recommendations made by a commission he created that submitted a report in December. Evers' budget proposal includes plans to:
— Create and fund the Wisconsin Initiative for Agricultural Exports to boost exports.
— Increase by $1.2 million funding for a grant program that invests in dairy processors.
— Spend $20 million to connect Wisconsin food banks and pantries with farmers.
— Fund a grant programs that supplies farm fresh food to cafeterias at both schools and businesses.
— Create a meat processor grant program to help the industry, including increasing capacity.
— Create and fund a value-added grant program to provide education and technical assistance related to value-added agricultural products.
— Create a variety of programs designed to address water issues.
— Create a new regional farmer mental health program to help increase farmers’ access to mental health support services.
— Provide continued funding for the existing farmer mental health counseling service.
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