Villages of Campbellsport and Kewaskum Secure $83,685 Wisconsin Innovation Grant for Regional Wastewater Services Partnership
Innovative Public Advisors was pleased to assist the Village of Campbellsport and Village of Kewaskum in securing a Wisconsin Innovation Grant to support a new intergovernmental partnership that will transfer wastewater testing and reporting services from the Village of Campbellsport to the Village of Kewaskum. The grant was approved by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue through the Innovation Grant Program, which encourages local governments to pursue innovative and cost-effective approaches to service delivery. The project will receive up to five annual grant payments of $16,737 or $83,685 in total.
Under the agreement, Kewaskum will provide wastewater testing and sampling coordination, laboratory coordination, regulatory reporting, compliance documentation, Operator in Charge services, and related technical support for Campbellsport's wastewater utility. The partnership replaces a hybrid service model that relied on a combination of internal staffing and contracted consulting services with a streamlined municipality-to-municipality approach. By leveraging Kewaskum's licensed wastewater operators, laboratory capabilities, and established compliance systems, Campbellsport will gain access to expanded technical expertise while reducing duplication and administrative complexity.
"This grant demonstrates what can be accomplished when local governments work together to share expertise and deliver services more efficiently," said Village of Kewaskum President Fuzz Martin. “Thanks to Wastewater Director Ben Propson for spearheading this effort and offering a model that will serve both communities.”
The new service model centralizes testing coordination, sampling, laboratory management, and regulatory reporting under a single municipal provider. The approach improves accountability, streamlines communication, and supports proactive compliance management with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requirements.
"We are grateful to Department of Revenue Secretary David Casey and his team for awarding this Innovation Grant to our villages," said Village of Campbellsport President Tom Dornbrook. “Thank you to Village Administrators Padrick Dunn and Adam Gitter for their collaboration and leadership in advancing this initiative.” By partnering, Campbellsport will reduce wastewater consulting costs, improve operational efficiency, strengthen regulatory compliance, and continue providing reliable, high-quality wastewater services. Kewaskum will be able to utilize the funds to expand its capacity to deliver these specialized services.
The Innovation Grant Program supports municipalities pursuing collaborative service delivery models that improve quality, accessibility, and efficiency while reducing long-term costs. The Campbellsport-Kewaskum partnership reflects both communities' commitment to innovation, regional cooperation, and responsible fiscal stewardship.
The grant application process was facilitated by Innovative Public Advisors (IPA), a public-sector executive recruitment and strategy firm. For more information, please contact IPA Partner Jess Wildes at 262-339-5658 or jess@public-advisors.com.
