Building Wisconsin’s Entrepreneurial Base

MADISON, WI. MARCH 23, 2026 – Twenty organizations that support Wisconsin entrepreneurs through technical and financial assistance have been awarded nearly $2 million in the inaugural round of Small Business Technical Assistance (SBTA) grants from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

“The recipients of this year’s SBTA grants play a vital role in driving Wisconsin’s economy forward by supporting entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey,” said John W. Miller, secretary and CEO of WEDC, the state’s leading economic development organization. “Through these grants, we are expanding access to critical technical assistance and strengthening the small businesses that power communities across Wisconsin.”

The SBTA program provides funding to organizations that assist entrepreneurs and small businesses across the state. Eligible recipients include nonprofits, units of government, educational institutions, community organizations, foundations, and Tribal entities. Grant funds can be used to support operational costs, training, and events, or in-depth programming such as business accelerators, helping entrepreneurs access the resources they need to start, grow, and sustain their businesses.

The current round of grants will assist more than 2,000 individuals and businesses throughout the state.

Grant recipients in this round of funding include:

Center for Community Stewardship, Inc. – Jumpstart South Central Wisconsin- $147,500

Rock County Jumpstart’s program, Tech Tank, is a 6-month incubator designed to build digital literacy, data analytics, and technology readiness. Entrepreneurs engage in technology-focused workshops, structured virtual learning, one-on-one coaching, and pitch training that strengthen both confidence and capacity. The program is intentionally structured to be accessible, allowing participants to work at their own pace while receiving individualized support to apply new skills directly to their businesses.

Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation – $16,800

The Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation is launching the county’s first comprehensive small business technical assistance program, addressing a longstanding gap in entrepreneurial support. The new program will offer free, personalized guidance to local entrepreneurs in areas such as business planning, financing, marketing, and resource navigation, along with an online hub and quarterly networking events with aims to strengthen the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and foster collaboration.

Oneida County Economic Development Corporation – $28,100

The Oneida County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) is launching a targeted initiative to support rural, unserved, and underserved startup companies and entrepreneurs across Oneida County. This project focuses on bridging critical resource gaps that hinder small business creation and growth in remote areas. Through this grant, OCEDC will provide direct, personalized technical assistance, mentorship, and access to financing tools that empower entrepreneurs to overcome barriers, launch their ventures, and strengthen the county’s economic base.

BizStarts Milwaukee – $200,000

BizStarts has developed a successful model that facilitates the launch and growth of small businesses. Programming includes follow-up services and an entrepreneur-in-residence for new start-ups. In 2026, the BizStarts Institute is expanding to Beloit and La Crosse. Other components of the program include entrepreneurial mindset training, BizStarts Institute, BizStarts Community Market, retail strategy, and workshops.

Food Finance Institute – $195,000

The Food Finance Institute (FFI) Fellows program combines high-touch support through coaching and training in addition to community development and network building to help food businesses succeed. Each cohort begins with pairing fellows with a business development coach to ensure foundational understanding of the company’s individual business model. Module topics include growth planning, financial management, maximize value potential, and category data. FFI offers ongoing peer and technical assistance support for program graduates.

Vilas County Economic Development Corporation – $66,000

The Vilas County Economic Development Corporation (VCEDC) Small Business Technical Assistance Initiative aims to strengthen support for Vilas County entrepreneurs by expanding free consulting, mentorship, and training programs. It will increase one-on-one business consulting engagements, offer structured startup resources, create a mentorship program, and host educational workshops. VCEDC will also enhance its digital toolkit, providing accessible tools and learning materials for small business owners.

African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin – $32,500

The African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin (AACCWI) will implement the Financial Empowerment Technical Assistance Program to strengthen the financial capacity of small businesses statewide. The program will combine personalized financial coaching with interactive workshops, offering one-on-one guidance from experienced consultants on payroll management, compliance, credit readiness, and financial software. These efforts will help business owners address shared challenges and expand access to critical financial resources.

Green County Development Corporation – $60,000

Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) and its partners will establish an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Catalyst to support entrepreneurs in Green and Lafayette counties and help them start and grow their businesses.

Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Inc. (EFund) – $200,000

EFund provides multiple in-person training cohorts of Be Strategic, along with Small Business Capital Forums. These programs will bring business owners together to develop ideas to scale their business, and within the capital forums, provide additional opportunities for access to capital. Entrepreneurs have direct access to advisors for one-on-one technical assistance as they work through scaling their business and/or securing the capital needed to be successful.

Ashland Area Development Corporation – $135,400

Ashland Area Development Corporation (AADC) provides technical assistance to start-ups, and existing businesses in Ashland County. The grant will allow AADC to hire two technical staff members to provide entrepreneurial technical assistance in the form of coaching, consulting, and classroom instruction. AADC offers both classroom instruction and individualized business coaching and consulting. Services include business plan development, marketing, growth strategies, and more.

Woodland Financial Partners – $110,500

The Expanding Capital Access is a three-year initiative that will provide technical assistance, including business planning, cash flow and budgeting, FSA application support, and management training to strengthen capacity, promote innovation, and expand wealth-building opportunities.

Milwaukee Mutual Aid Network – $96,700

Milwaukee Mutual Aid Network, in partnership with Culture x Design (CXD), will strengthen Milwaukee’s creative economy through Creative Futures, a mobile, year-round artist resource hub. The initiative pairs creative development with practical business training, including branding, pricing, contracts, fundraising, and business planning, while using community spaces and digital tools to ensure equitable access across Milwaukee. By prioritizing programming over physical infrastructure, Creative Futures directs resources to artists and positions in Milwaukee as a model for statewide innovation.

Latino Entrepreneurial Network – $25,600

The Thriving Together Program is an initiative supporting entrepreneurs and microenterprises across Wisconsin. Through individualized business assessments, hybrid learning, and strategic coaching, participants gain practical tools for business growth, peer learning, and capital readiness and helps entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses that contribute to Wisconsin’s economic vitality.

Milwaukee Urban League – $50,000

Milwaukee Urban League plans to use grant funding to assist entrepreneurs in the Milwaukee area through its Entrepreneurship Connection Initiative. Participants will be connected to resources offered through the Milwaukee Urban League’s network of partners at no cost. The initiative will provide memberships, event attendance, entrepreneur exchange, and access to digital literacy classes and resources.

Community Education Initiative $50,000

Community Education Initiative (CEI) offers free, highly personalized business technical assistance and mentoring tailored to the unique needs of individuals and communities across Wisconsin, with a focus on rural northern counties. CEI aims to support job creation and retention while collaborating with other organizations to fill service gaps and maximize impact.

UW Center for Cooperatives – $127,600

The UW Center for Cooperatives (UWCC) will provide a range of technical assistance and program offerings to startup, converting, and established cooperatives across the state. A cooperative is a unique form of democratic business enterprise that requires specialized education, training, and development assistance. UWCC assists developing co-ops with organizational development; stakeholder surveys and meetings; feasibility analysis and business plans; meeting facilitation; membership drives; capitalization strategies; development of articles of incorporation, bylaws, and policy; and member and board training and education. It also provides referrals to legal, accounting, and other professional services.

Midwest Minority Supplier Development Council DBA North Central Minority Development Council – $128,000

The North Central Minority Development Council’s Wisconsin Statewide MBE Business Accelerator Program is a 12-month, statewide initiative that accelerates the growth of early-stage enterprises across Wisconsin’s six key economic sectors. The program guides participants through three phases—foundation and assessment; growth and scale; and launch and investment.

Progress Lakeshore – $64,600

Progress Lakeshore offers a comprehensive suite of entrepreneurial development services that guide small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs from ideation through growth. The initiative combines one-on-one counseling, peer mentorship, targeted training, and networking events, with a focus on expanding access to rural communities through virtual services and pop-up office hours. By creating an integrated continuum of education, mentorship, and technical assistance, Progress Lakeshore aims to increase business launch readiness, improve survival rates, and foster sustainable economic growth across the region.

African Center for Community Development – $39,600

This project is designed to strengthen the small business ecosystem within Dane County. The project supports entrepreneurs earning $50,000 or less annually by helping them become successful vendors, access capital, and grow or launch businesses. Through workshops, mentorship, and technical assistance, participants gain practical skills and confidence to thrive in sectors like arts and crafts, homecare, food services, and cleaning. The program aims for 75% of participants to improve their business management skills and 50% to be matched with mentors. Its cohort-based, hands-on approach fosters sustainable growth in Dane County’s local economy.

Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation – $150,000

The Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with the UW–Oshkosh Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development and the Small Business Development Center at UW–Oshkosh, will implement the Innovation Foundry Program—an eight-week cohort program offered multiple times per year that helps established small businesses bring new ideas to market through workshops, mentorship, and individualized advising focused on market validation, financial planning, and launch preparation. UW–Oshkosh students will be integrated into the program as Student Innovation Associates, providing project support to participating businesses while gaining hands-on consulting experience.

For more information about the WEDC Small Business Technical Assistance Program, visit the WEDC website at: https://wedc.org/programs/small-business-technical-assistance-program/

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

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