A first-of-its-kind program is looking to improve rural roads in the state of Wisconsin.
Jason Mugnaini with the state’s Farm Bureau says that getting the new $150 million program did not happen overnight, but the outcome will be well worth it for local governments that take advantage.
According to Mugnaini, “The ARIP program, the Agricultural Road Improvement Program, is a new road program. It’s a 90/10 match, so those local governments are going to have a 90% match, but they can amortize that over whatever timeframe they want to. It is a pretty straightforward program. It is a program designed to improve roads that service the ag industry. If someone’s got a weight restriction on a road or the road is listed as Class B, this program qualifies to submit a grant, a 90/10 match. There’s $100 million available right now to help improve the road and make sure that road doesn’t provide an impediment to farmers bringing products to market, accessing fields, and going to visit their processors.”
He says that collaboration between local officials and farmers will be key to making these programs successful.
“They awarded 37 projects in 28 different counties in Wisconsin,” Mugnaini explains. “They were a variety of different crops, products, livestock, dairy of course, but what these projects are ultimately doing is connecting farmers with processors, with their fields, connecting those bringing trees out of forested areas to the mills. I mean, this is going to make a much smoother and safer transportation for agriculture and forestry products here in the state of Wisconsin.”
He says that Wisconsin is already getting inquiries about the program from other states.
