WISCONSIN — A recent study shows Wisconsin allocated more than half of its American Rescue Plan Act funds to the economy, which is more than any other state.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Wisconsin spent around $1.1 billion of its funds on the economy, which is 55.8% of the total amount it received. Nebraska spent the second most on its economy, with a total of 37.8%.

The study analyzed how states spent ARPA dollars through Aug. 31, 2022. It examined not only how much each state spent on the economy, but also capital construction, unemployment insurance, health, human services, education, public safety and more. 

In total, the state received  $2.5 billion in ARPA funds. So far, the state has spent around $2 billion of it, according to officials. The funds were provided to states to help them bounce back from the pandemic.

Much of the funds went toward grants to support local business, including the Main Street Bounceback grants, which support new small businesses. The program is still up and running until Dec. 31. Another program was the Workforce Innovation grants which aimed to "help the regions of Wisconsin solve their most pressing workforce challenges by financially supporting collaborative, sustainable and innovative pandemic-recovery plans developed by regional organizations."

For more information on the study, click here.