Sen. Howard Marklein celebrated the announcement of another round of Ag Road Improvement Program (ARIP) funding awards. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that the Town of Patch Grove in Grant County and the Town of Willow Springs in Lafayette County were among the recipients on April 1, 2026.

The Town of Patch Grove was awarded $3.3 million to repair Maine Road, while the Town of Willow Springs will receive $2.8 million for improvements to Furnace Hill Road. The state will cover 90% of the projected cost for each project.

The ARIP Program was established under 2023 Wisconsin Act 13, coauthored by Sen. Marklein and Rep. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City), and funded through the 2023-25 Wisconsin State Budget. The program was renewed with $150 million in the 2025-27 Wisconsin State Budget.

“I am pleased to see that the Towns of Patch Grove and Willow Springs have been awarded ARIP grant funding through this round of applications,” Marklein said. “This program has proven to be both popular and effective in upgrading roads that are essential for farmers to bring goods to market. I am glad that local farmers, producers, and small towns in southwestern Wisconsin will benefit from our investment.”

The ARIP program was created to upgrade local, rural roads that connect agricultural producers to county and state highways. The first round of funding in this grant cycle made $50 million in awards available, and $100 million will be available during the second round of funding, which opens April 27.