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2009 summer community events grant funding

Goals

• To continue decreasing traffic deaths in Wisconsin. We have seen a 20% drop in deaths from 2007 to 2008.
• To work toward "Zero in Wisconsin" 
• To provide a safe ride home through the use of alternative transportation by providing funding. This is for patrons attending the local summer community event who have been consuming alcohol.
• To collaborate with community members to gain buy in, support and develop an action plan to deter drinking and driving before, during or after the event and throughout the year.
• To distribute information on the dangers of drinking and driving, and to promote personal responsibility.

Timeline

Grants will be awarded from approximately April 1 - June 1, 2009. Funds must be used for the identified event before September 30, 2009.

Eligibility

Any municipality can apply for funding. There must be sufficient alcohol traffic statistics and data showing the need for alternative transportation during the event including evidence of drinking and driving and/or alcohol related crashes during past events. Alcohol related crash data for a minimum of 3 years must be included. Documentation is available from WisDOT by contacting the Bureau of Traffic Safety Section for alcohol related crashes or viewing our crash facts and general crash information Internet material.

This event should be an annual, or once per summer community event that serves alcohol such as a local summer celebration, festival, beer tent, or fundraising event where customers are typically drinking and then driving. We do not sponsor summer-long events such as weekend tubing down the river or very large outdoor events such as Summerfest in Milwaukee. The grant amount awarded will be no more than $10,000.

Policy for allowable expenses

Federal grant funds must be used for the following:

• Developing, printing and distributing impaired driving materials or marketing incentives (i.e. lanyards, posters, window clings, T-Shirts, napkins, etc., that are exclusive to the dangers of drinking and driving, and information on alternative transportation rides during the event). Use of the "Zero in Wisconsin" or "Over the Limit. Under Arrest" logos should be used. Maximum of $1000.
• Providing contractual services incurred by partners who are directly involved with transporting patrons who have been drinking using a taxi cab, van or bus from the summer event drinking establishment (beer tent, etc.) to the patrons' home. Only one ride per night per patron is allowed.
• Advertising the event, which focuses on the alternative transportation available and the dangers of drinking and driving through newspapers, ads, posters, flyers, and Internet. Maximum of $1000.

Funding will not cover

• Law enforcement overtime for increasing traffic safety on roadways including streets and highways to deter, detect and arrest impaired drivers. We cannot fund overtime that has previously been funded by other agencies.
• Law enforcement monitoring the entrance to beer tents or other areas. Other duties that do not directly alternative transportation of patrons (such as crowd control or ID check) are not allowed.
• Any food, beverage, incentives, gifts, tokens or fireworks costs incurred before, during or after the event.
• Any admission fees for personnel staff attending shows, entering beer tents, concerts or other events.
• Reimbursement of staff time for those serving alcoholic beverages or working at events or activities.
• Reimbursement of staff time at informational booths to distribute materials on the dangers of drinking and driving.

Matching fund requirement

Match funding must be at least 25% of the grant amount provided to the local municipality. Match can include payroll costs for law enforcement overtime or other direct or indirect costs for traffic safety that are incurred but not reimbursed by the grant. See other items listed above under "funding will not cover." For example, if a $5,000 grant is awarded, the municipality must have a match of at least $1,250 for a total budget of $6,250.

The grantee must include dated, valid documentation for all allowable costs when submitting for reimbursement. We will only pay for products or services that are purchased AFTER the grant award approval start date but prior to September 30, 2009 and directly related to the prevention of drinking and driving. The documentation must be for the specific event or related activities and dates shown must support that.

Process to apply for funding

You may contact the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to get more information or to start the grant application process. The grant application (DT38) includes problem identification, goals, objectives, work plan, deliverables, an evaluation component, and an annual budget. The amount of the grant that you may apply for is up to $10,000 per year per event. You can apply immediately for a grant. The grant application must include a plan for media coverage such as TV, radio, newspaper or Internet as well as how and when that coverage will occur.

To assist you in filling out the application, use the following documents in preparing data to add to the form.

• Partially filled-in DT38 form  
• 2009 summer events work plan (for community use)
• Form DT38 attachment #1

Municipalities are encouraged to work with other surrounding municipalities if at all possible to have an activity in an area of the state (and not just one municipality). For instance if there is a summer event involving several communities and their law enforcement agencies, one grant could be awarded but several agencies could be involved. By working together, there are opportunities to realize greater efficiencies in staff time, vehicles, and agency collaboration within the communities. Furthermore, the implementation and reimbursement process could be streamlined to save costs, which helps the grant dollars go further.

For more information contact:
Janet Nodorft
Alcohol Program Manager
4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Room 551
Madison, WI 53707
Phone: (608) 266-0550
Fax: (608) 267-0441
E-mail: janet.nodorft@dot.wi.gov

Or the regional program manager:
Dennis Johnson (northwest area)
Phone: (715) 839-3800 x 134
E-mail: dennis.johnson@dot.state.wi.us

Andrea Loeffelholz (southwest area)
Phone: (608) 267-3297
E-mail: andrea.loeffelholz@dot.state.wi.us

Patti Nelles (north central area)
Phone: (715) 421-7368
E-mail: patti.nelles@dot.state.wi.us

Mike Panosh (northeast area)
Phone: (920) 492-5671
E-mail: michael.panosh@dot.state.wi.us

You will need Microsoft Excel 2000 to view Excel files. If you do not have a copy of Microsoft Excel installed on your computer, you can use the Microsoft Excel Viewer (provided free of charge) to view Excel files. For more information about getting your free copy of Microsoft Excel Viewer, visit WisDOT's Software information page.

You will need Microsoft Word to view Word files. If you do not have a copy of Microsoft Word installed on your computer, you can use the Microsoft Word Viewer (provided free of charge) to view Word files. For more information about getting your free copy of Microsoft Word Viewer, visit WisDOT's Software information page.

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Questions about the content of this page:
Steve Olson, steve.olson@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: May 20, 2009