Investment to Help 70 Businesses and Create or Save 180 Jobs
STEVENS POINT, Wis., August 6, 2020 – Wisconsin State Director Frank Frassetto announced today that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $866,000 with 13 partner organizations in Wisconsin to help rural businesses create jobs and increase economic opportunities.
“These grants will strengthen the economic fabric of our rural small towns and communities by providing capital to small and emerging businesses,” said Frassetto. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA has been working tirelessly to be a strong partner to rural Wisconsin in building stronger and healthier communities, because we know when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
USDA is awarding the grants through the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program. Recipients may use the funds to provide technical assistance, training and job-creation activities to small rural businesses. The following are examples of five projects being funded under today’s announcement in North Eastern Wisconsin.
- Newcap Inc will use a $110,000 grant to provide technical assistance, coaching and mentoring for small business owners located in rural northeastern Wisconsin who are either in the start-up phase or the expansion phase of business development. Technical assistance activities will focus primarily on identifying prospective business opportunities and providing leadership training within their nine-county service area. The proposed project will assist four businesses and save 14 jobs.
- Oconto County Economic Development Corp will use a $39,000 grant to provide technical assistance to small rural businesses in Oconto County. The project will focus on helping businesses secure financial and non-financial business resources, focusing on Main Street businesses and Central Business Districts throughout the county. This is the 6th year that this Agency has been participating in Rural Development business programs and this year's award proposes to assist three businesses which will help create or maintain ten jobs.
- Menominee Indian Tribe will use a $100,000 grant to purchase equipment for a shared kitchen for one Native American business owner. This is the 7th year that this Agency has been participating in Rural Development business programs and this year’s award proposes to help save or create five jobs.
- Niijii Capital Partners Inc will use a $89,000 grant to provide technical assistance to five Native American business owners of three Wisconsin Tribes: the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, the Menominee Indian Tribe and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community. This is the 12th year that this Agency has been participating in Rural Development business programs and this year’s award proposes to help save or create 53 jobs.
- Nicolet Area Technical College will use a $35,000 grant to provide technical assistance and to develop a virtual information ecosystem on entrepreneurs, mentors and service providers. The proposed project will assist one business.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/wi, call us at 715-345-7600 or email wi-rd-stateoffice@usda.gov.
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