Abilities Fund
The
Abilities Fund offers
micro loan guarantees for entrepreneurs with disabilities in 45 states.
The
Abilities Fund also
offers grants to women business owners with
disabilities.
http://www.abilitiesfund.org/Agricultural
Diversification
The
Wisconsin Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection operates the Agricultural
Development and Diversification (ADD) Grant Program. These annual
grants (up to
$50,000) fund projects that are likely to stimulate Wisconsin's
farm economy with new production
or marketing techniques, alternative crops or enterprises, new
value-added
products, or new market research. Visit
http://www.datcp.state.wi.us/mktg/business/marketing/val-add/add/index.jsp
Catalog of
Federal Domestic
Assistance
The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance gives a complete listing of
federal grant programs for individuals and
businesses. To access this catalog, go to
http://www.cfda.gov
Count-Me-In
Count-Me-In is a nationwide micro-lender for women-owned businesses
seeking
their first business loan. Visit the web site, which also provides
access to
financial networks, consultation, and education for women-owned
businesses.
http://www.count-me-in.org
Impact Seven
Impact Seven, a statewide community development corporation, has
assembled a
group of revolving loan funds to create the Greater Wisconsin Fund.
This fund
is designed to assist business start-ups or expansion in Wisconsin
communities. For more information, call 608-251-8450 or go to the
Impact Seven
web site.
http://www.impactseven.org/Information
on Regional Angel
Networks
“Angels” are individuals of high net worth who invest in privately held
companies. Along with family and friends, angels often participate in
the early
rounds of financing a growth business—typically preceding venture
capital.
Angels tend to invest smaller dollar amounts than venture capitalists,
often
prefer to invest “close to home”, and are generally approached through
social
contacts and gatekeepers such as attorneys and CPAs. “Angel networks”
bring
together private investors in a geographical area to evaluate business
deals
and make investments. Angel networks vary in their organizational
structures,
due diligence and deal-making procedures. Some angel networks focus
their
investments in specific technology areas or industry sectors because of
investor expertise. Angel networks require submission of a current
business
plan for investor review. For information on regional angel networks,
visit:
http://northstareconomics.com/angel_investing.htm
Jackson
County
Business Revolving Loan Fund
The Jackson County Business Revolving
Loan Fund loans funds to small businesses to encourage and promote
economic
development in the County. The
primary
goals of the program are to reduce unemployment and create new
jobs. To be eligible, the
business must be located
in Jackson
County.
The owner must also provide at least 10
percent equity into the
project. The
business must create one
full time job for each $20,000 of revolving loan requested.
Loans range from $10,000
to $100,000, and are
below the prime rate. Applications
can
be obtained from Jackson County Business RLF, C/O County
Clerk
at 307
Main Street in Black River Falls,
WI 54615. 715-284-0201
kyle.deno@co.jackson.wi.usMississippi
Regional Planning Commissions
The
Mississippi River
Regional Planning Commission provides administrative and technical to
several
community, county or multi-county revolving loan funds (RLF).
Please call
608-785-9396 or email
plan@mrppc.com
about funding availability or eligibility prior to preparing an
application.
http://www.mrrpc.com/
The
following is a list of
revolving loan funds administered by the MRPPC.
Business
Capital Fund: The Business Capital Fund is a
revolving loan fund
(RLF) designed to address a gap in private capital markets for
long-term, fixed
rate, low down payment, low-interest financing. The fund is
targeted to
manufacturers, tourism and selected service industries which create
jobs and
are located in Buffalo,
Jackson,
Pepin, Pierce and Trempealeau Counties
La Crosse
County Revolving
Loan Fund:
The La Crosse County
Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) was formed to provide affordable financing to
new
business start-ups and business expansions that create jobs and
contribute to
economic growth in La Crosse County.
CMV Growth
Development Fund: The CMV Growth Development
Revolving Fund is
designed to foster growth in economic base activities that are the
dominant
force in affecting economic growth or decline in the Tri-county area of
Crawford, Monroe and
Vernon
counties. The fund is targeted
to manufacturers, tourism and selected service industries that create
jobs.
The Monroe
County Revolving Loan
Fund (RLF) Program: is designed to promote local
economic development by
providing a source of long-term, fixed rate, low interest financing for
new and
existing business projects that are located in Monroe County.
Money Tree Survey
PricewaterhouseCoopers,
Thomson Venture Economics, and the
National Venture Capital Association publish the quarterly Money Tree
Survey on
venture capital investing trends
nationwide.
http://www.pwcmoneytree.com/moneytree/index.jspNational
Venture Capital Association
The National Venture Capital Association sponsors training and
matchmaking
events for investors and entrepreneurs, and posts information on the
venture
capital industry.
http://
www.nvca.org
Revolving
Loan Funds (RLFs)
Many communities and counties throughout Wisconsin
operate revolving loan funds for businesses starting or expanding
within their
boundaries. For a statewide list of RLFs, open this document:
http://toolkit.wi.gov/Finding
Money/RLF Contact by County.pdf
Riverland
Energy Economic
Development Program
The
funds for the Riverland Energy Economic
Development Program can be used by new, expanding, and start-up
businesses for
real property, infrastructure, machinery and equipment.
The loan has a 10 year maximum term and
cannot exceed 50% of the total project.
Client equity must be at least 25% for
start-up businesses. Loan
amount is determined by Riverland Energy
Cooperative Board of Directors.
Rural
Economic Development Loans
and Grants (REDLG)
The REDLG
program provides
funding to rural economic development and job creation projects through
local
utility organizations. Under the REDLoan program, USDA provides zero
interest
loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local
businesses
(ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain
employment in
rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility
directly. The
utility is responsible for repayment to the Agency. Under the REDGrant
program,
USDA provides grant funds to local utility organizations which use the
funding
to establish revolving loan funds. Loans are made from the revolving
loan fund
to projects that will create or retain rural jobs. When the revolving
loan fund
is terminated, the grant is repaid to the Agency.
Small
Business Administration
(SBA)
The
SBA does not directly
provide grants or loans, but does guarantee business loans made by
banks. These
loan guarantees assure that, if the borrower defaults, the government
will
reimburse the lender for the guaranteed portion of the loan. The SBA
loan
guarantee programs enable banks to extend financing that might not
otherwise be
available. The SBA also oversees a 504 Loan Program, administered
through
Certified Development Companies, that funds the purchase of land,
building, and
equipment in business expansion. For more information and a list of
Wisconsin
Certified Development Companies, go to the SBA web site (click on
<Financing>) or talk to your bank about using an SBA loan
guarantee to
reduce the risk of a business loan.
http://www.sba.gov/wi/
Small
Business Innovation Research
(SBIR) and
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
These programs are operated by select federal
agencies to provide
R&D funding for U.S.
small businesses. More than $1.5 billion is available annually to fund
the
development of innovations and technologies of designated national
interest. To
find out more, open the SBIR fact sheet:
http://toolkit.wi.gov/Finding%20Money/SBIRfactsheetcomlogo.pdf
State Rural
Funding
The Wisconsin Department of
Commerce operates two
programs for rural entrepreneurs. The Agriculture Development Zone
(ADZ)
Program provides tax incentives to new or expanding businesses involved
in Wisconsin’s
agricultural
sector. The Rural Economic Development Program provides working capital
or
fixed asset financing for businesses with less than 50 employees
located in a
city, town or village with 6,000 people or less, or located in a county
with a
population density of less than 150 persons per square mile. For more
information, visit the Commerce web site
http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/MT/MT-COM-2000.html
State Technology Business
Financing
The
Wisconsin Department of Commerce operates an array of tax credit and
financing
programs for technology business development, including the new
Technology
Venture Loan, SBIR-assistance grants, and early-stage investor tax
credits
created by Wisconsin Act 255.
- The Technology
Development Fund
(TDF) provides low-interest loans to finance R&D
activities
that will have economic impact in Wisconsin.
Contact Kathy Collins at 608-267-0769 or Kathy.collins@wisconsin.gov
- The Technology
Development Loan
(TDL) provides low-interest loans to finance eligible
costs of
technology commercialization. Contact Kathy Collins at 608-267-0769 or Kathy.collins@wisconsin.gov
- The Technology
Venture Loan
provides up to $250,000 to supplement third-party investor (equity)
financing. Contact Kathy Collins at 608-267-0769 or Kathy.collins@wisconsin.gov
- The Technology
Assistance Grant
(TAG) provides up to $15,000 to hire professional services
to write a
federal R&D grant or business plan designed to attract outside
investor financing. Contact the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network (WEN)
at http://www.wenportal.org
- The Technology
Bridge Grant
funds eligible expenses necessary to
keep a research team intact
between SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II funding awards. Contact Kathy
Collins at 608-267-0769 or Kathy.collins@wisconsin.gov
- The Technology
Matching Grant
provides state dollars to supplement and help Wisconsin
companies secure federal R&D awards (e.g., SBIR Phase II or
FastTrack). Contact Kathy Collins at 608-267-0769 or Kathy.collins@wisconsin.gov
Thomson
Venture Economics
Thomson Venture Economics publishes benchmark reports on venture
capital
investment globally, and provides access to ordering investment
publications
and national directories, including Pratts Guide to Private Equity
Sources and
Directory of Limited Partners.
http://www.thomson.com/content/financial/other_brand_overviews/Publications
West Central
Regional Planning
Commission
The
West Central Wisconsin
Regional Planning Commission is statutorily charged with the
responsibility of
planning for the physical, social, and economic development of the
region. To accomplish this mission, the Commission conducts
area wide
planning and provides technical assistance to local
governments.
http://www.wcwrpc.org/
Wisconsin
Angel Network (WAN)
WAN provides a deal-flow pipeline
for entrepreneurs of
growth companies seeking investor capital. The WAN website
offers a
secure page for posting a company’s executive summary, where only
qualified Wisconsin
angel and venture investors have passwords to
view the summaries. WAN also has services to video-record a
capital-raising presentation to help companies reach a broad range of
investors. For more information and to post an executive
summary, visit
http://www.wisconsinangelnetwork.com
Wisconsin
Business Innovation
Corporation
The
Wisconsin Business
Innovation Corporation (WBIC),
created in 1996, encourages the development of technology-based
companies in
rural Wisconsin.
WBIC provides access to both debt and equity financing. Contact Mark
Mueller at
mueller@wbic-newventures.com.
Wisconsin
Community Action Program Association (WISCAP)
WISCAP offers Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) which are
dedicated
savings accounts opened at participating financial institutions by
eligible,
working, low-income persons. Deposits made into the IDA are matched on
a 2:1
basis. Persons may deposit up to $1,000 of their earnings to their IDA
within a
two-year period and receive a maximum match of $2,000. Starting a small
business is an eligible investment.
http://www.wiscap.org
Wisconsin
Department of Veterans
Affairs
Personal Loan Program (WDVA)
WDVA offers personal loans for veterans of up to $25,000 at low
interest rates
and 10-year terms, which may be used to finance the purchase of a
business or
business property. Visit the WDVA web site or call
1-800-947-8387.
http://dva.state.wi.us/Ben_education.asp
WI Division
of Vocational
Rehabilitation
DVR offers
training and
business start-up grants. On
the DVR
website under “Resources,” click “Training Grants,” to view
instructions and
forms. The
Exception Request/Process is
available for requests beyond a local office’s limit of
$3,000.
http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/dvr/
Wisconsin
Focus on Energy
Focus
on Energy works with
eligible Wisconsin
businesses to install cost effective energy efficiency and renewable
energy
projects. For more
information, visit:
http://www.focusonenergy.com
Wisconsin
Housing & Economic Development Authority (WHEDA)
WHEDA
operates three
programs of particular interest to entrepreneurs. The Agribusiness Loan
helps
new or existing businesses obtain financing on favorable terms to
produce
products using Wisconsin’s
raw agricultural commodities. The Link Deposit Loan provides an
interest rate
subsidy on lender financing to women or minorities for business
start-up or
expansion. The Small Business Guarantee helps borrowers obtain
financing on
favorable terms for rural start-up and daycare businesses. For more
information, go to the web site, email WHEDA at info@wheda.com, or call
1-800-334-6873.
http://www.wheda.com/
Wisconsin
Life Sciences Venture Conference
This annual capital matchmaking event for life science growth companies
is held
each autumn. Companies apply to make investor presentations in late
summer. For
more information, visit
http://www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com
or contact Tom
Still, phone: 608-442-7557.
Wisconsin
Venture Capital Companies,
Capcos, and
Investment Banks
Venture capital
companies are pools of capital managed by professional fund managers
who invest
in growth companies expected to earn a desired (usually high) rate of
return
and achieve multi-million-dollar sales goals. Certified Capital
Companies
(Capcos) make investments in qualified Wisconsin
growth businesses. Investment Banks provide a range of equity capital
services.
For more information and contacts to venture capital companies, Capcos,
and
investment banks with operations in Wisconsin,
open:
Guide
to Wisconsin’s Venture Capital Marketplace
Wisconsin
Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)
WWBIC,
with offices in Madison
and Milwaukee,
offers pre-loan business assistance and micro-loans to small businesses
having
difficulty obtaining bank financing. This financing is not limited to
women-owned businesses. The maximum loan amount is $35,000. For more
information, visit the web site
http://www.wwbic.com
or contact info@wwbic.com
Other Funding
Sources:
Visit the
State
of
Wisconsin
Department of Commerce website for other
financial assistance programs
available to help businesses and communities undertake economic
development.
http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/
All
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
funding applications are submitted through the agency’s Area
Development
Managers who operate in designated regions. To locate your Area
Development
Manager, go to:
http://commerce.wi.gov/BD/MT-FAX-0901.html
·
The
state’s Technology Zone Program provides tax incentives to
expanding
technology-
driven businesses located
in regional technology zones. For information on your region’s
Technology Zone
Program, visit http://commerce.wi.gov/bd/BD-TZ.html
·
Early-Stage
Investment Tax Credits. The Qualified New Business Venture
(QNBV) program provides Wisconsin
income tax
credits to accredited investors and certified venture funds making
early-stage
investments in businesses designated QNBVs. To find out more about how
businesses and investors obtain certification, and how the investor
tax-credit
program works, go to http://commerce.wi.gov/Act255/
or contact Kathy Collins at
608-267-0769 or Kathy.collins@wisconsin.gov
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