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§ Grant
Financial and technical assistance for Wisconsin businesses, startups, and communities, supporting growth.
WEDC provides $50,000-$250,000 to Wisconsin businesses under 25 employees through community organizations like CDFIs, supporting small business creation and growth across the state.
Wisconsin businesses with fewer than 25 employees, accessed through community-based organizations. Emphasis on underserved communities and entrepreneurs facing barriers to traditional financing.
$50,000 to $250,000 as microloans, grants, or other instruments through community intermediaries, plus business counseling, technical assistance, and mentoring.
Contact WEDC or local economic development organizations. Apply through community intermediaries, not directly to WEDC. SBDCs across Wisconsin can help identify appropriate programs.
Main street retail, food production, tech startups, manufacturing, and service businesses across Milwaukee, Madison, and smaller Wisconsin communities from diverse entrepreneurial backgrounds.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation administers statewide economic development resources alongside recognizable regional institutions like the University of Wisconsin System, gener8tor, and the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. Through the Small Business Development Grant program, the agency provides funding to community organizations that pass allocations directly to businesses with under 25 employees. These competitive grants range from 50,000 to 250,000 dollars, complementing other initiatives like the Qualified New Business Venture program offering a 25 percent state tax credit to early stage investors. Recent financial distributions include a 1,500,000 dollar allocation to ten organizations, including the Saint Croix Economic Development Corporation, and 3,100,000 dollars in Entrepreneurship Partner Grants awarded across eighteen entities. Ultimately, these resources are intended for Wisconsin entrepreneurs, startups, and local municipalities seeking capital, tax incentives, or operational support to facilitate business expansion and job creation.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) provides $50,000 to $250,000 to Wisconsin businesses with fewer than 25 employees through community-based organizations. WEDC is Wisconsin's lead economic development agency, managing a portfolio of programs that support business creation, growth, and community development across the state. The program channels funding through local intermediaries to ensure support reaches entrepreneurs in communities throughout Wisconsin.
Wisconsin businesses with fewer than 25 employees are eligible, with funding typically accessed through community organizations such as Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), economic development agencies, and business assistance centers. The program serves small businesses across industries, with particular emphasis on underserved communities and entrepreneurs who may face barriers to traditional financing. Eligibility specifics vary by the intermediary organization administering the funds.
Funding ranges from $50,000 to $250,000, provided through community-based lending and grant organizations. Support may take the form of microloans, grants, or other financial instruments depending on the intermediary. Beyond capital, WEDC-funded programs typically provide business counseling, technical assistance, and mentoring through the community organizations. This localized approach ensures that entrepreneurs receive culturally competent, accessible support alongside their funding.
Contact WEDC or your local Wisconsin economic development organization to identify available programs. Applications are submitted to the community-based intermediary rather than directly to WEDC. Each intermediary has its own application process, criteria, and timeline. The WEDC website maintains a directory of partner organizations and current programs. Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) across Wisconsin can also help connect entrepreneurs with appropriate funding sources.
WEDC-funded programs have supported small businesses across Wisconsin, including main street retail shops, food production companies, technology startups, manufacturing firms, and service businesses. The program has been particularly impactful in Milwaukee, Madison, and smaller Wisconsin communities, helping entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds access the capital and support they need to launch and grow their businesses.