The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is disbursing $529,000 in grants to organizations throughout the state to fund programming, education and services that support entrepreneurs.
Among the 13 organizations receiving entrepreneurship support grants is Milwaukee's BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, an early-stage investment nonprofit, for its HATCH program, a regional startup pitch competition, and the Marquette University Law School's Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic for free legal advice and to build an online information platform.
More than 800 entrepreneurs are expected to be served by the programs being funded this year, WEDC reports.
“These grants are really about creating an environment across Wisconsin that allows entrepreneurs to take their best ideas and turn them into successful businesses,” said WEDC secretary and CEO Missy Hughes in a statement. “What’s so exciting about this year’s grants is that these groups are bringing entrepreneurship resources into rural areas where some services are harder to access and into communities of color to inspire new business leaders.”
In his 2021-2023 budget, Gov. Tony Evers proposed $10 million direct investment to promote entrepreneurship in underserved communities, including minority and women-owned businesses.
Here is the complete list of organizations receiving grants from the state:
- Northwest Side Community Development Corp., $60,000
- BizStarts, $60,000
- SCORE Wisconsin, $50,500
- Nicolet Area Technical College, $50,000
- Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County, $45,000
- Western Dairyland Business Center, $40,000
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville, $40,000
- BrightStar Wisconsin Foundation, $40,000
- Couleecap Inc., $40,000
- Marquette University Law School’s Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic, $35,000
- CAP Services, $30,000
- MCDEVCO, $30,000
- Financial Promise Foundation, $3,500
