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“We’re All In” Small Business Grant – Whitewater small business owners, this is for you.

Lisa Dawsey Smith
Whitewater Banner Staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Announced by Governor Evers on May 18, 2020, the “We’re All In” Small Business Grant is designed as an additional measure of business support utilizing funds allocated to the state directly from the CARES Act. These grants outlined as $2,500 per award for up to 30,000 Wisconsin based small businesses are to assist with costs associated with business interruption or for health and safety improvements, wages and salaries, rent, mortgages and inventory.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • be a Wisconsin based, for-profit business
  • employ 20 or fewer full-time employees (including the owner)
  • earn greater than $0 but less than $1 million in annual revenue
  • began operations prior to January 1, 2020 and remained in business in February 2020

Application Period:

The application period will open at 8 a.m. Monday, June 15 through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 21, 2020. A link to the application will be available on this page.

Be Ready to Apply:

  • 2018 or 2019 Federal Tax Return (businesses opening after January 1, 2020 are not eligible for this grant). Additional specifics for tax records are available at the link above.
  • A signed W-9 form available here.
  • A letter of acknowledgement from a community organization indicating your business was operating in February, 2020. That may be obtained from one of the following; electronic letters submitted to the business via email are acceptable:

    – Chamber of Commerce
    – Main Street or Connect Communities organization (e.g. Downtown Whitewater, Inc.)
    – Local business improvement district
    – Neighborhood economic development association
    – Local economic development organization (e.g. Whitewater Community Development Authority)
    – County economic development organization
    – Municipality, including tribal government
    – County
    – Local bank, credit union or community development financial institution
    – Regional UW Small Business Development Center
    – U.S. Export Assistance Center – Wisconsin
    – Regional economic development organization
    – Regional Planning Commission
    – Trade association

Small businesses are encouraged to seek additional details here for eligibility and process information or contact the Whitewater Chamber of Commerce at info@whitewaterchamber.com with questions.

Our Town Shirts Available; $3 per Shirt Donated to WUSD Family Emergency Fund

Until June 15, WHS will be offering an “Our Town” shirt using the school logo to show local support during these challenging times. The shirt is not specific to any sport or organization; it just shows our support for Whitewater!

Three dollars of every sale will go to the Whitewater Unified School District Family Emergency Fund.

The sale is open now and will run through June 15th. Sales are done completely online, and the shirts are delivered directly to your house.

Let’s help out the Family Emergency Fund, and show our support for Whitewater!

Use the following link to place your order. Both youth and adult sizes are available. Adult sizes are available in short sleeve or long sleeve versions. https://www.bsnteamsports.com/shop/WWOURTOWN

Gov. Evers Announces Three Appointments to the UW Board of Regents; UW-Whitewater Student Corey Saffold Selected

MADISON (Office of the Governor Press Release) – Gov. Tony Evers announced on June 1 three new appointments to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents. The governor has appointed Amy Bogost, Corey Saffold, and Kyle Weatherly. These appointments are effective immediately and replace three former appointees whose terms expired on May 1 of this year. 

“Just like the rest of our state, the UW System is facing some unprecedented challenges as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and its financial and academic impacts on our campuses,” said Gov. Evers. “I am confident in these three regents and their ability to tackle the challenges ahead of us and ensure the continued success of not only the System, but of the Wisconsin Idea.”

Regent Bogost received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin— Madison before continuing on to earn her law degree. Bogost has most recently focused her practice on ensuring justice for survivors of sexual violence, establishing trainings for attorneys to help aid survivors of sexual assault on campuses and has worked with high schools, colleges, and tribal colleges on the implementation of Title IX procedures.

Regent Saffold is one of two UW System students on the Board of Regents, serving as the non-traditional student representation. In addition to attending the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater, where he studies Criminology, Saffold serves as a Security Coordinator in the Verona Area School District.

Regent Corey Saffold

Regent Weatherly is the CEO and Co-Founder of Frontdesk, one of the largest and fastest-growing
home-sharing companies in the United States, and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin— Madison where he received his MPA in Public Management.

Gov. Evers: Even During COVID-19, America’s Dairyland Celebrates June Dairy Month

Per a press release from the Office of the Governor, Governor Tony Evers offered the following statement:

It’s June in Wisconsin, and that means June Dairy Month. From my days working in a cheese plant, I’ve never missed the chance to support our state’s dairy industry, which now contributes $45.6 billion to Wisconsin’s economy. I know things have been hard for dairy farmers these past several years, and this June won’t be any easier. Even though you might not be headed out to a crowded dairy breakfast this year, we can (and should) still celebrate this powerhouse industry.

June Dairy Month is a long-standing, proud tradition in our state. There’s no better way to start the summer than by eating plenty of curds and ice cream to support our dairy industry. But dairying is more than just producing high-quality food: it’s an integral part of our state’s heritage. It’s why we call ourselves “America’s Dairyland,” and why I’ve worked hard to try and help position our dairy industry for success.

Our state has relied on the resilience and dedication of our farmers for generations, and in this state, nobody carries the burden alone. We need to be better partners for our farmers, agricultural industries, and rural communities. In January of this year, I unveiled a three-pronged plan to start addressing these challenges, starting with a special session of the Legislature to get to work on this issue right away. Now, the legislature hasn’t sent any bills to my desk yet, but I remain hopeful the proposals I introduced will pass with bipartisan support before the year is out.

In the meantime, my administration isn’t waiting to help our farmers. I am directing $50 million of the funding Wisconsin received through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act toward direct payments to support Wisconsin farmers, including dairy producers.

Wisconsin’s dairy community is more than just farms, too. Those farms are connected to a vast network of equipment manufacturers and technicians, cooperatives, veterinarians, construction companies, milk haulers, processing plants, software companies, and many more. When Wisconsin dairy thrives, all of these interconnected industries thrive too. There’s no denying that this year, June Dairy Month looks different. Even before COVID-19, Wisconsin’s dairy industry endured several tough years. Dairy farmers in particular were hit hard by low milk prices and President Trump’s trade wars. Now, the global pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for our farmers, food processors, and all those in the food supply chain. Some farmers were pushed to take the heart-wrenching step of disposing of their milk – the commodity they work so hard to produce every day.

But, in these difficult, constantly-changing circumstances, we have seen just how resilient our dairy community is. Almost as quickly as challenges arose, the dairy industry found ways to address them. Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) banded together with Hunger Task Force to deliver thousands of gallons of fresh milk to people in need. Wisconsin cheese makers made generous donations to help feed their local communities and save milk from going down the drain. There are countless stories like these, and every day we see more.

I’m proud of our state’s dairy industry. It’s part of our past and present, and it will be part of our future, even as we continue to respond to the market changes brought on by COVID-19. This year’s June Dairy month recognition is especially hard-won, but I hope you’ll join me in celebrating nonetheless. We’re America’s Dairyland, and that’s one thing COVID-19 won’t change.

Lisa Dawsey Smith is a Hometown Hero

(Whitewater – Whitewater Unites Lives) Lisa Dawsey Smith is this week’s WUL Hometown Hero, “For her incredible leadership through Downtown Whitewater, Inc. and the Chamber of Commerce, for spending hours each week participating in national and state organization e-conference calls to learn about the latest news and programs for small business owners, for gathering what she learns to share with local businesses, and because of those efforts for having likely saved businesses and farms in our community.”

Lisa Dawsey Smith

Lisa said, “My hope is that everyone in our community has the opportunity to feel that they are seen and valued as a hometown hero because whenever a community finds itself in the midst of the unprecedented, the unknown and certainly sometimes even the just plain awful the most important key to not just surviving but thriving is how a community comes together. Keep showing up and finding ways to be the awesome people that you are and know that I’m just one person who happens to be thankful every day that I get to wake up as part of this community.”

Lisa and her husband Garrett live in Whitewater with their two daughters.

Hometown Hero Award Lisa Dawsey Smith

WUL (Whitewater Unites Lives) is a locally-focused civil and human rights group that works to connect the people in our community and to create opportunities for all people to learn and support each other in our common humanity.   

 Anyone who would like to nominate a local hero of any age should send their nomination, with a short description, to whitewaterunites@gmail.com 

Whitewater Community Foundation Announces Community Action Grants

COMMUNITY ACTION GRANTS (Whitewater Community Foundation Press Release) – Seven local organizations received grants of $3,025 each totaling $21,175 from the Whitewater Community Foundation (WCF) from their Community Action Grant Fund.  The Board of Directors would like to congratulate the good works happening in Whitewater through the efforts of volunteers of the following organizations:  The Community Space, the Whitewater Food Pantry, Bethel House, First United Methodist Church, St. Patrick Catholic Church, New Beginnings APFV and the Whitewater Rescue Squad.  All of these worthy organizations contribute to the safety and well-being of the community in different ways, assisting families that are struggling to meet even the most basic needs.  On March 24, WCF set up a special COVID‑19 Relief Fund intended to support local non‑profits and government agencies that spend their funds helping those affected by the pandemic.  A second round of grants will be given from this fund.  People can donate on the website at www.whitewatercommunityfoundation.org or by sending a check to WCF at P.O. Box 428, Whitewater, WI 53190.  WCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Donations are tax‑deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

Peaceful March for Racial Unity on Sunday at 10 a.m. in Whitewater

Whitewater Unites Lives will be hosting a peaceful march for racial unity this Sunday, June 7 at 10 a.m. (rain or shine). The group would like to invite community members to meet at 10 a.m. at Cravath lakefront near the parking lot for a peaceful march. They will begin with a moment of silence and then they will walk down Main Street on the sidewalk to the Birge Fountain (in front of the Cultural Arts Center) and back.

Signs are welcome with a peaceful message on racial unity.

For health and safety during COVID-19 please wear a face mask and use social distancing practices.

If you have questions, please contact whitewaterunites@gmail.com

WHS Virtual Graduation Ceremony Scheduled for Sunday, June 7, at 2:00 p.m.; Ceremony Available Here and on Channel 990

The Whitewater High School Virtual Graduation Ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 7, at 2:00 p.m., and will last approximately 1 hour.

The ceremony will be available on the Whitewater High School webpage and Whitewater High School Facebook page as well as on Charter/Spectrum Cable Channel 990 and here in the Whitewater Banner. Watch for the post at exactly 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Chancellor Watson issues statement on social media incident

In an announcement listed on the University announcements page, Chancellor Watson released the following:

Message from Chancellor Watson regarding social media incident

Dear Warhawks,

In response to a video that has been circulating on social media that may involve a current University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student, we have received numerous communications from community members, students and alumni expressing concern.  

The type of behavior exhibited in the video is concerning to many, including leaders of UW-Whitewater. We do not want our institution branded as a place of hate. As a university, we take great pride in upholding our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

We are in the process of reviewing the post. Please trust we will follow both UW-Whitewater and UW System policies to ensure that everyone’s rights are addressed, protected and respected. We take these allegations seriously, but we do want to ensure that the process is equitable. 

These are tense and stressful times, and we appreciate that our community values the vigilance concerning our institution. If you have any questions, or find other instances that you feel are hate- or bias-related, please contact our Chief Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Officer Kenny E. Yarbrough at 262-472-1910 or email him at YarbrouK@uww.edu.

You may also submit a report by using the following link:  https://www.uww.edu/equity-diversity-and-inclusion/hate-bias-reporting-form.

In community,

Dr. Dwight C. Watson
Chancellor

Banner comment: Click here for a related article in The Gazette titled “UW-Whitewater Reviewing Social Media Post Including Racist Content.”