12-8-21 fdl dock spiders receive federal pandemic relief funds

The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders baseball team is sharing in nearly $3 million provided to 17 minor league teams across the state utilizing federal pandemic relief funding.  State Department of Administration secretary Joel Brennan presented the Dock Spiders with a $200,000 check Tuesday to help the team recoup revenue that was lost during 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.  “The minor league and sport franchises in Wisconsin are about the backbones of communities,”  Brennan told WFDL news.  “Here in Fond du Lac we heard and learned more about what the experiences are like here in putting together and drawing the team, community members who house players.  This is the kind of organization ,  its the kind of small business,  that we need to support.”    Dock Spiders GM Jim Misudek says its nice recognition from the state and he is very grateful to receive the grant.  “One of the core values in our organization is to have people leave our ballpark with a smile on their face and come back again,”  Misudek told WFDL news.  “This contribution to our organization will allow us to improve and enhance our fan experience.”    DNR secretary Preston Cole says the grants help fuel the state’s overall economic recovery.  “Recognizing that outdoors in pandemic times becomes the safest place to be.    The economic development associated with a baseball team and all outdoor recreation is a big deal,”  Cole said.  Cole said Wisconsin’s nature-based economy is a $17 billion a year enterprise.   In addition to the minor league sports teams governor Tony Evers announced more than $14 million in grants to movie theaters and summer camps throughout the state.