Gov. Evers announces $86 million in funding for local, tribal health departments

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Governor Tony Evers, along with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, announced an additional $86 million in funding for local and tribal health departments Wednesday, Jan. 13.

The funds will be dedicated to off-setting COVID-19 related expenses such as vaccine administration, according to DHS.

“Our local and tribal health departments have been – and continue to be – on the frontlines of responding to the pandemic here in Wisconsin,” said Governor Evers. “Their dedicated health officers and staff have helped keep us safe, and we must provide them with the funding they need to continue doing just that.”

DHS says the funding comes from the Epidemiology and Lab Capacity grant given by the CDC. Each local and tribal health department will receive funding tied to the population of its jurisdiction.

“As we expand ways in which people can get vaccinated from COVID-19, our local and tribal health departments continue to be significant critical partners in that work, like they have been for testing and tracing,” said DHS Secretary-designee Andrea Palm. “This funding recognizes the key role our public health partners play in keeping our state healthy and safe.”

For up-to-date information about Wisconsin's COVID-19 response, visit the DHS COVID-19 webpage.