City plans to tweak little used floodplain relief program in La Crosse

Roughly 2,000 properties in floodplain in city 

There are new plans for a program to help those in La Crosse’s floodplain. 

The city’s floodplain relief program was rolled out with a lot of ballyhoo last fall.

Some called the program a game changer for the city – something that would help floodplain property owners get financing to make improvements to their properties.

It was enough to get those properties out of the federal floodplain maps but a source in city hall told WIZM the program has been a failure.

Virtually nobody has signed up to get the matching funds or special financing so, this week, the city council is voting to tweak the program.

Instead of the city providing matching grants of 50 percent up to $20,000, the plan is to up the anty to 90 percent matching grants.

There are roughly 2,000 La crosse properties in floodplain areas, including businesses and non-residences.