A regional economic development group – 7 Rivers Alliance, has announced a new grant program aimed at helping small businesses in rural western Wisconsin. The organization says it will distribute 275 thousand dollars through its Small Business Revitalization Grant Program. Funding includes 250 thousand dollars from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and 25 thousand dollars from the nonprofit’s own board. Grants of up to ten thousand dollars will be available to small businesses in communities with populations under four thousand across nine counties in the region. Eligible uses include equipment and technology upgrades, building improvements, signage, and startup costs. CEO Chris Hardie says the program is designed to strengthen the small businesses that serve as the backbone of rural communities. The application window is April first through August first.
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The regional economic development group 7 Rivers Alliance has announced a $275,000 Small Business Development Grant aimed at the region’s rural Wisconsin communities.
Chris Hardie, 7 Rivers Alliance CEO, said the nonprofit was able to obtain $250,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. as part of the Wisconsin Small Business Development Grants (SBDG). In addition, the 7 Rivers Alliance board of directors has authorized an additional $25,000 in funding from the West Salem-based nonprofit.
The 7 Rivers Small Business Revitalization Grant Program will provide micro-grants of up to $10,000 directly to small businesses for eligible activities including equipment and technology upgrades, building projects, façade improvements, new signage, working capital to assist a start-up or start-up rent assistance for up to three months.
The grants will be available to small businesses with a focus on those in rural communities in Western Wisconsin – specifically in communities of 4,000 population or less. Businesses will also be required to participate in up to 20 hours of ongoing education, mentorship, or technical assistance. Businesses will have the option to provide a 10% cash match in lieu of receiving technical assistance.
“I believe it is incredibly important to be able to offer these grants to businesses in our rural communities,” Hardie said. “I have a strong belief that we need to focus more economic development efforts in these communities, which this grant will provide.”
Ten local and regional economic development organizations, municipalities, and counties received funding from the WEDC. The organizations will pass 100% of the funds on to small businesses.
“Local leaders want to build communities where people are excited to live, work, and grow,” said John W. Miller, secretary and CEO of the WEDC, the state’s lead economic development organization. “These grants will allow communities to make the investments small businesses need to be able to grow and thrive.”
The 7 Rivers Alliance service area in Wisconsin is Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Trempealeau, and Vernon counties.
Hardie said there are 54 cities or villages under 4,000 population and numerous towns in the Wisconsin service area. These are communities that have little to no economic development or planning staff and very few chambers or business associations, he said.
“By empowering the small businesses that are the heart of these communities, the program can help these firms grow, increase wages, and retain talent, thereby providing a vital piece of the solution to help these rural communities thrive,” Hardie said.
Applications will be accepted beginning April 1 and will remain open through Aug. 1. Grant recipients will be announced by December 31, 2026, and funds will be distributed to recipients throughout 2027.
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