Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation have awarded grants to complete the remaining $100 million from the Agricultural Road Improvement Program (ARIP). These funds finalize the $150 million allocated in the last budget. The grants will upgrade local roads that transport over 15 million tons of agricultural goods annually. Farming and forestry operations that rely on these roads contribute $12 billion each year to Wisconsin’s economy.
“These grants will significantly impact Wisconsin’s farm economy, and we couldn’t be more grateful,” said Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation President Brad Olson. “Sens. Marklein, Tomczyk, and Ballweg, along with Reps. Tranel and VanderMeer, led this effort. We also appreciate the Wisconsin legislature and Governor Evers for making this happen. These grants are a strong first step in addressing this long-standing issue.”
Wisconsin DOT received 299 applications, requesting over $500 million in funding—more than three times the available amount. The awarded projects will improve transportation efficiency, reducing costs for farmers and consumers.
“The half-billion dollars in applications for this new program confirms what the farm community has known for decades,” Olson said. “Our rural roads desperately need attention for our farm economy to survive and thrive. We need this program to continue.”
The program was created through a bill authored by Sens. Marklein, Tomczyk, and Ballweg, along with Reps. Tranel and VanderMeer. It received unanimous bipartisan support in the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Evers. Funding for the program was included in the 2023-25 State Biennial Budget.
A complete list of grant recipients can be found here.
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