Bringing new life to idle sites

Redeveloped idle industrial and commercial sites can again become generators for economic development and an improved quality of life for the cities and communities where they are located. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s (WEDC’s) Idle Sites Redevelopment Program helps communities pursue this opportunity.

How it works

The Idle Sites Redevelopment Program offers grants to Wisconsin communities to implement redevelopment plans for large commercial, institutional or industrial sites that have been idle, abandoned or underutilized for a period of at least five years.

Preference will be given to sites that are located in high-density urban areas or in central business districts. An approved redevelopment plan demonstrating strong potential for significant measurable economic benefits, such as increased generation of property taxes and the creation of full-time permanent jobs, will increase the competitiveness of a proposed project.

Eligibility requirements

Grants may be made to cities, villages, towns, counties, tribal entities or governmental entities for idle industrial sites exceeding five acres in size, for idle institutional parcels exceeding five acres in size, or for idle commercial sites exceeding 10 acres in size, where redevelopment is impeded due to existing site conditions.

Eligible activities

Grant funds may typically be used for the following activities:

  • Building rehabilitation or demolition
  • Environmental remediation
  • Infrastructure improvements

Eligible applications will be able to provide the following with their application:

  • If a private developer is participating in the project, an officially approved development agreement that describes the project and its goals, anticipated outcomes, project timeline, and actions, obligations and investments to be made by each party; or
  • if the project does not have a private developer, an officially approved resolution that describes the project and its goals, anticipated outcomes, project timeline, and actions, obligations and investments necessary to achieve redevelopment.