Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) Program

The Transportation Economic Assistance (TEA) Program, administered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), offers matching state grants to support transportation infrastructure improvements aimed at bolstering economic development. Established in September 1987, the program has awarded over $126 million through November 2025 to 219 communities across the state. The primary goal of the TEA program is to attract new businesses and retain existing ones in Wisconsin, thereby fostering job creation and retention. Businesses that benefit from the program must demonstrate that the proposed projects are vital to their decision to stay or expand in the state. They must also commit to creating or retaining jobs at the project location within a specified timeline. TEA grants fund road, rail, harbor, and airport improvements necessary for business expansion or relocation. Eligible projects must commence construction within three years of receiving the grant, and the transportation improvement must be publicly owned. Applicants must be local governing bodies such as cities, towns, counties, or villages. The program emphasizes urgency, enabling projects to move forward more quickly than typical state programming procedures. The funding structure is based on a 50/50 cost share, with the applicant required to contribute matching funds. This match may consist of private, federal, or local sources, including in-kind contributions such as engineering services or land acquisition, but cannot include other state funds. To qualify, applicants must satisfy four eligibility criteria. First, the economic development project must not likely occur without the transportation improvement. Second, the transportation improvement itself must not occur without the grant. Third, the project must create or retain jobs within the grant’s seven-year performance timeline, with snapshots at three and seven years to verify outcomes. Fourth, construction must be scheduled to begin within three years of the grant award. Certain exclusions apply, such as projects for airplane hangars, ethanol production, or developments likely to displace existing jobs in the state (e.g., retail, hotels, entertainment venues). Applications for the TEA program are accepted on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis and are processed when all eligibility and documentation requirements are satisfactorily met. Applicants are cautioned not to begin construction or ground disturbance before receiving formal approvals from WisDOT, including an executed project agreement, completed engineering and environmental reviews, and an approved bid package. Failure to comply with these steps can result in ineligibility. Applicants are encouraged to consult early with the TEA Program Manager to verify their project’s eligibility and alignment with TEA requirements. Application materials must be submitted securely via Box, and access is provided upon request to the Program Manager. The submission must include specific forms and environmental documentation as outlined in the TEA Project - Key Steps and Documentation checklist. The TEA Program is governed by state statute s.84.185 and administrative code Chapter Trans 510, ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of state resources for economic development. For more information or to begin the application process, prospective applicants should contact Roselynn Bittorf, TEA Program Manager, at [email protected] or (608) 267-2934. Her office is located at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Planning and Economic Development in Madison, Wisconsin.

Do not begin construction or advertise project before full WisDOT approval.