14 Apr Gov. Evers, WEDC Announce $3.2 Million in Grants to Support Small Businesses Statewide
Funding will bolster local efforts to support small businesses, entrepreneurship, and economic development on Main Streets across Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), today announced that 19 organizations have received nearly $3.2 million in Small Business Development Grants (SBDG) to uplift small business development in local communities across the state. The SBDG Program provides grants to local communities and organizations to directly invest in small businesses and small business creation, including bolstering Main Streets, supporting youth entrepreneurship, improving infrastructure, providing technical assistance, and more.
“Wisconsin’s small businesses are the hearts of our communities and are important and powerful drivers of our state’s economy,” said Gov. Evers. “Now more than ever, it is critical that we do all we can to support the success of our state’s small businesses across our state. These investments we’re announcing today send a message that, here in Wisconsin, if you have a great business idea and the willingness to work hard to make it happen, our administration is here to support you and your good work. It’s that simple.”
“Small businesses play a vital role in creating the communities we live, work, and play in,” said WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. “But sometimes they need a little boost. With the help of our community partners, small businesses will be able to continue to thrive and contribute to our communities.”
The SBDG program builds on the success of Gov. Evers’ popular Main Street Bounceback Grant Program, which provided nearly $95 million in grant funding to nearly 9,500 businesses to fill empty storefronts in all 72 counties throughout Wisconsin. The governor’s 2025-27 Executive Budget builds upon longstanding efforts to support small businesses across the state and includes a $50 million investment to relaunch the successful Main Street Bounceback Grant Program, originally funded through federal relief funds, which will provide as many as 5,000 eligible businesses with grants up to $10,000 to help afford building repairs and improvements, lease and mortgage payments, and defray other expenses that can be a barrier to growing a business.