Recently Marinette County has been in conversations with the UW System regarding changes to education programs on the UWGB – Marinette Campus due to declining enrollment and funding issues. Earlier this year the UW System notified Marinette County that in person classes would end in June. Marinette County owns the facilities and the real estate that the two-year UW – Marinette Campus is located on, and the Board of Supervisors will be deciding soon what they will do with the UW – Marinette Campus, Fieldhouse, and Runnoe Park. As this leaves a financial burden on the County. During this time, Senator Eric Wimberger has been working with the Joint Finance Committee on Senate Bill 518 which requires the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp to award grants up to $2 million to counties for costs associated with the redevelopment of buildings on UW System branch campus buildings that are or will no longer be used for academic purposes. Wimberger says, “since the announcement from UW- Green Bay, Marinette Campus, I have been working to ensure that Marinette has a seat at the table as solutions are debated in the Capitol.”
The amendment to the bill ensures Marinette County is included in the funding. Marinette County and the UW – System have had a partnership for 90 years, and this funding will help Marinette look toward the future and the next chapter for the campus. The bill is expected to be taken up by the full Senate as early as this week.
5