Nineteen businesses receive $3.2 million in Small Business Development Grants | News

MADISON, Wis. — Nineteen businesses are recipients of a nearly $3.2 million Small Business Development Grants. 

The SBDG Program provides grants to local communities and organizations to directly invest in small businesses and small business creation. 

“Wisconsin’s small businesses are the hearts of our communities and are important and powerful drivers of our state’s economy,” said Gov. Tony Evers. 

The Small Business Development Grants range from $50,000 to $250,000 and were awarded to local and regional economic development organizations, municipalities, and counties to support small business development and creation. 

The 19 grant recipients include: 

• City of Beaver Dam | $50,000
• The city of Beaver Dam will use the funds to expand their existing Downtown New Business Recruitment Grant to provide $5,000 to brick-and-mortar businesses in the city for lease and mortgage payments, operating expenses, and building repairs and improvements.
• ColorBold Business Association | $95,000
• ColorBold Business Association will use the funds to provide grants to businesses that participate in the Entrepreneur of Color Collective, a three-month business training program. Grants can be used for startup costs, expansion, marketing, materials, education, staff, and technology.
• Villages of DeForest and Windsor | $250,000
• The villages of DeForest and Windsor are partnering to create a small business grant program to provide grants to businesses for repairs or upgrades to existing commercial properties.
• Door County Economic Development Corporation | $225,000
• The organization will use the funds for the Door County Small Business Façade and Property Improvement Program, which offers grants to help rehabilitate and upgrade commercial buildings. The program allows business owners to enhance the appearance and functionality of their businesses.
• Eagle River Revitalization Program Inc. | $250,000
• Eagle River will use the funds for the Eagle River Impact Grant, which will resolve vacancies, blight, and underused property and encourage entrepreneurship. Grants can be used for façade improvements, building and infrastructure rehabilitations, building transformations, or new commercial space development.
• City of Fond du Lac | $215,000
• Funds will be used to supplement and expand the city of Fond du Lac’s small business programs, including the Building Improvement Grant, Catalytic Project, Building Security Grant Program, Downtown Fond du Lac New Business Grant, and Downtown Fond du Lac Experience Generator Grant. These programs address exterior façade renovations and lighting improvements and provide startup funds.
• Green County Development Corporation | $60,000
• Green County will use the funds to establish a two-pronged project to encourage entrepreneurship and create long-term small business support. The Youth Entrepreneur Program will provide workshops, mentorship, and funding opportunities to students. Funds will also be used to establish a small business revolving loan fund.
• Iowa County | $125,000
• Iowa County will use the funds to support small businesses through its Business Boost Initiative, which has a tiered grant structure to assist with both large and small business expenses, including development, expansion, and physical infrastructure improvements.
• Juneau County Economic Development Corporation | $250,000
• Juneau County will use the funds to create a series of five grant programs related to entrepreneurial development, leadership, patents, startup support, and profitability investments.
• City of Kiel | $60,000
• The city of Kiel will use the funds to supplement its façade revolving loan fund, which will support growing local, small businesses by providing low-interest loans for building improvements and financial support.
• City of Ladysmith | $250,000
• The city of Ladysmith will use the funds to expand its Business Renovation Program, which provides grants to new and existing businesses for permanent property improvements. It will also create the Down Payment/Rent Assistance Program to assist startup businesses with down payments or the first three months of rent.
• Lafayette County | $90,000
• Lafayette County will use the funds to expand its existing Launch Lafayette County Grant, which is a competitive grant program that supports business building improvements and aims to enhance the visibility and prominence of Lafayette businesses.
• Marquette County | $50,000
• Marquette County will use the funds to provide small businesses with grants to advertise their products and services online. The program includes technical assistance to educate businesses on how to advertise online, evaluate previous advertisements, and create a marketing plan.
• City of Medford and Village of Gilman | $120,000
• The city of Medford will create the FIX-IT Grant, which will support business improvements for façade, interior, exterior, inclusiveness, and teardown. The city of Medford has partnered with the village of Gilman, and grants will be available to businesses in both municipalities.
• Milwaukee County | $200,000
• Milwaukee County will use funds to create the Bridge Building Small Business Grant Program, which will provide businesses with grants to purchase or lease commercial spaces or expand operations in their current space.
• Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission | $250,000
• The Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission will use the funds for a Regional Business Plan Competition Project and Regional Grant Funds, which will serve as additional gap financing and down payment assistance.
• Northwest Side Community Development Corporation | $250,000
• The Northwest Side Community Development Corporation will use the funds to provide sub-grants to position businesses for expansion and increase access to capital.
• City of Ripon | $240,000
• The city of Ripon will use the funds for the WRNC (Waupun, Ripon, North Fond du Lac, and Campbellsport) Business Opportunity Fund, which will promote the growth and sustainability of small businesses in these communities.
• Vernon County | $150,000
• Vernon County will use the funds for the Elevate Vernon Program, which will provide technical assistance and grants of up to $10,000. The grants can be used for marketing, branding, equipment, building improvements, signage, software, hardware, staff training, or consulting.

More information can be found on the WEDC’s website. 

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