I was proud to vote for significant investments in the tourism industry in the 2023-2025 biennial budget. This included new funding items that provide $20 million to the Department of Tourism to help with advertising and expansion of the current marketing and advertising campaigns for tourism to make Wisconsin more competitive with our neighboring states.

We additionally funded the Office of Outdoor Recreation for the next two years— continuing the office’s work to connect businesses within the industry and visitors to Wisconsin’s outdoor opportunities. The budget also provides state matching funds for the Wisconsin Arts Board to match federal grants available for the arts throughout Wisconsin.

The arts are a crucial and often under-looked part of the tourism economy in my district and throughout the state. The 51st Assembly District is home to numerous arts facilities, including Taliesin Preservation, American Players Theatre, Shake Rag Alley, Mineral Point Opera House, Darlington Opera House, and Monroe Arts Center, among others. These are the places that make southwest Wisconsin unique and are why so many people choose to visit our area each year. We are so fortunate to have these facilities; I am proud to support them in any way I can to ensure residents of the 51st and tourists from all over can continue enjoying these places for years to come.

This session, I worked on a budget motion that would create a Rural Creative Economy Grant Program. This program would’ve allowed rural arts facilities to receive up to $50,000 to support their growth. While this motion, unfortunately was not included in the final budget, it is something that I am continuing to work on this session through stand-alone legislation. I am proud to support all of the art facilities in my district and look forward to working with my legislative colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the growth and development of the arts throughout Wisconsin.

MHLC Groundbreaking Ceremony

I recently visited the construction site for the new Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County. I was joined by US Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator Howard Marklein for the groundbreaking ceremony.

During the last legislative session, I authored a bill that allocated $4 million in funding for the construction of the new hospital. The bill passed the Assembly before Governor Evers decided to allocate federal ARPA dollars for the project. I am proud of this work and will continue to advocate for MHLC in any way that I can, whether it’s assisting with construction permits, driveway access, and anything else to ensure that this new facility can open as soon as possible and begin serving the residents of southwest Wisconsin. 

The new facility will replace the current hospital that was built in 1952. MHLC is the only county-owned hospital in Wisconsin and provides critical healthcare and emergency services for rural residents of Southwest Wisconsin; without MHLC, patients in need of care would be forced to travel outside the county and some cases, over an hour to receive medical attention. The new facility will include an expanded emergency department, diagnostic imaging, two operating rooms, a procedure room, a medical and surgical unit, a pharmacy, a rehabilitation center, and a vision clinic with a retail eye shop.

I want to thank Kathy Kuepers, CEO MHLC, Molly Weigel, Former COO MHLC, Dr. Martin Cleary, MHLC, and Jed Gant, Lafayette County Hospital Committee member, for all of their work advocating for this new facility, including testifying at the capitol on my bill. I also want to thank Senator Baldwin for her work at the federal level to secure funding for this project.

Lafayette County Fair

Earlier in July, I attended the Lafayette County Fair. In keeping with my tradition, I always buy one of the animals shown during the livestock auction by an FFA student.

This year, I purchased a sheep raised by Xandria Olson, Darlington FFA. There was a big crowd at the fair, and it was so great to catch up with everyone. Thanks to all the kids for their hard work with their show animals. 

— Rep. Todd Novak represents Wisconsin’s 51st Assembly District. He can be reached at 608-237-9151 or email rep.novak@legis.wisconsin.gov.