WWBIC to open new women’s business center in Southwestern Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC) has received additional funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration to open a new Women’s Business Center in southwest Wisconsin. This new center will serve entrepreneurs and business owners throughout nine counties of southwestern Wisconsin.

Funded by a $750,000 multiyear grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, it will open in 2021. The center will support programming in nine counties: Crawford, Grant, Juneau, Iowa, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Richland, and Vernon. The SBA grant funds the center with an annual grant of $150,000 for five years.

“WWBIC is thrilled to receive additional federal funding from the SBA Office of Women’s Business Ownership to continue to expand and meet the needs of so many interested in starting and expanding that business in the southwest part of our state,” said Wendy K. Baumann, President and CVO.

“We are all so pleased and honored that WWBIC is opening a new Southwestern Wisconsin Women’s Business Center here in La Crosse. The City is a proud partner with WWBIC, sharing the goal of supporting our women entrepreneurs and small business opportunities here in our area. We look forward to continuing and building that relationship, especially with this new office located right here in the Coulee Region,” said Mayor Tim Kabat.

WWBIC has had a presence in the La Crosse and Viroqua areas for the past 6 years and in 2019 alone, served 1,217 unduplicated clients and worked with key strategic partners among others, City of La Crosse La Crosse Area Development Corporation, Viroqua Chamber Main Street’s, SW SBDC, SBDC at UW-La Crosse, Couleecap, Driftless Development, Juneau Economic Development Corporation, SWCAP, Coulee Region Business Center, YWCA-La Crosse to advance the important work of assisting small businesses through technical assistance and lending services.

WWBIC has offices across Wisconsin serving the Appleton area, Green Bay area, Greater Madison, Greater Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, and surrounding counties. This will be its first office located in the southwest region of Wisconsin.

About WWBIC 

Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC) is a leading, innovative economic development corporation “Putting Dreams to Work.” WWBIC’s primary focus is on women, people of color, veterans and low income individuals, providing

direct lending and access to fair and responsible capital, quality business education, one-on-one technical business assistance and education to increase financial capability. Since 1987, WWBIC has lent over $77 million in micro and small business loans with a current loan portfolio of $24 million and over 570 active borrowers.  To learn more about WWBIC visit: www.wwbic.com 

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.