MADISON — The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will receive $79,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide technical assistance to small businesses in rural Wisconsin, WEDC officials announced Aug. 18.
The federal money will help fund WEDC’s Main Street and Connect Communities programs, which assist local communities with downtown development and redevelopment. Assistance made possible by the funding will include workshops, webinars and roundtable discussions, as well as one-on-one consulting assistance on topics identified as a top priority by local businesses including marketing, space design, financial recovery and planning.
The grant to WEDC is part of $866,000 the USDA is providing to 13 organizations in Wisconsin to help rural businesses create jobs and increase economic opportunities.
WEDC previously received $58,000 through the program in 2017, when a similar rollout of programming provided assistance and training to 312 businesses and 87 community development partners.
Businesses that were assisted by WEDC in 2017 included Gysber’s Jewelry in Waupun, which went on to renovate their historic property and inspire several property owners to complete projects; the Ellsworth Creamery in Ellsworth, which underwent a subsequent renovation and expansion of its retail facility; Mill Creek Gardens in Marshfield, which has upgraded its marketing capabilities and added a functional e-commerce site; startup business Poppy Popcorn in Rice Lake and Open Door Coffeehouse in Mayville. The program also spurred several entrepreneur-friendly pop-up shop programs, including shops in Monroe and Two Rivers.
Other projects funded by the USDA grant include: $48,000 to the University of Wisconsin System, which will provide technical assistance to small and emerging businesses in the City of Whitewater to complement its entrepreneurship program and technology park infrastructure; $99,000 to Wisconsin Community Action Program Association Inc. to assist small businesses in 28 counties with feasibility studies, business planning, financial analysis and loan searches and $32,000 to Easter Seals of Wisconsin to assist rural entrepreneurs with disabilities in 16 counties.