STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
The Abilities Fund
Centerville Office
410 N 18th St
Centerville, IA 52544-1823
Telephone: 641-856-2173
Toll Free: 888-222-8943
Fax: 641-856-3101Iowa City Office
332 South Linn Street, Suite #17
Iowa City, IA 52240
Telephone: 319-338-2521
Toll Free: 866-720-3863
Fax: 319-338-2528
URL: http://www.abilitiesfund.org/"This summer The Abilities Fund, together with a national lending partner, will launch a nationwide direct loan program for entrepreneurs with disabilities. In 45 states, loan guarantees will also be available to as a means to secure loans for entrepreneurs. Flexible terms and competitive interest rates for microloans ranging from $500 - $25,000 will be offered.
In support of new microlending services, The Abilities Fund will be expanding its online presence to include training and technical assistance. Soon, people with disabilities nationwide will have 24-hour access to features such as Feasibility First ©, business plan development, and financial planning for business startup -- all of which are resources designed to prepare entrepreneurs with disabilities for self-employment."
Advocap, Inc.
19 West First Street, P.O. Box 1108, Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1108
Phone: (920) 922-7760
Fax: (920) 922-7214
URL: http://www.advocap.org/
- Links to local offices
URL: http://www.advocap.org/contact.html"The goal of the Business Development Program is to help persons with low incomes gain self sufficiency through self employment. The program administers a Business Development Loan Fund which provides loans to start-up and existing eligible businesses. ADVOCAP is designated as a lender by the US Small Business Administration for the Micro Loan Program."
Business Assistance Center
835 Potts Avenue, Green Bay, WI 54304
Phone: (920) 496-9010
URL: http://www.MyBusinessHelp.org
The Business Assistance Center is the premier one-stop shop for entrepreneurs, business start-ups, and emerging/existing businesses seeking help with business planning, counseling, mentoring, financing, and education. The Center is a partnership among multiple organizations functioning as a single entity irrespective of organizational affiliation.
CAP Services, Inc.
5499 Highway 10 East, Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
Phone: (715) 343-7500
Fax: (715) 343-7520
E-mail: info@capserv.org
URL: http://www.ruralisc.org/capserv.htm
- Virtual Business Incubator
URL: http://www.virtualincubate.com"CAP's Virtual Business Incubator (www.virtualincubate.com), launched in November 1999, was the first of its kind in Wisconsin. The site, which offers understandable, easy to use materials on accounting, banking/finance, insurance, business law, and marketing, received the 2000 Governor's Award for Excellence in Community Action."
City of Two Rivers
1717 East Park Street, Two Rivers, WI 54241-0087
Phone: (920) 793-5565
Fax: (920) 793-5538
URL: http://www.tworiverseconomicdevelopment.org/"Two Rivers offers competitive financing to help fund new businesses or expansion projects. The city's revolving loan fund has helped more than 25 companies expand operations and create jobs in Two Rivers. The fund collects about $400,000 in loan repayments every year. These dollars can then be used to support other growing firms with loan amounts up to $500,000."
Impact Seven, Inc.
147 Lake Alemena Drive, Alemena, WI 54805
Phone: (715) 357-3334
Fax: (715) 357-6233
E-mail: impact@impactseven.org
URL: http://www.impactseven.org/"We are headquartered in Almena, Wisconsin. Impact Seven is also a certified Community Development Financial Institution, manages several Small Business Administration (SBA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan programs, provides venture capital, and is part-owner of a community development bank, started in conjunction with partner a CDC. We are one of the largest non profit developers of affordable housing in Wisconsin, and manage well over 854 units. As a consultant and developer, we have helped numerous communities make in significant strides towards revitalizing sagging economies and dwindling populations."
Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Inc.
200 Olcott Plaza, 820 Ninth Street North, Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: (218) 749-4191 or Toll Free (800) 422-0374
E-mail: info@neefund.org
URL: http://www.entrepreneurfund.org/Service Area: Douglas County
"The Northeast Entrepreneur Fund, Inc. is a private nonprofit organization. We help people develop their ideas for starting or expanding small businesses in Northeastern Minnesota. Our technical assistance services include classroom training and individual consulting. We help people with business planning, including developing a business idea, targeting markets, determining financial feasibility, managing cash flow and setting personal and business goals. We have offices in Duluth, Grand Rapids, and Virginia, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. We have an independent consultant who serves Koochiching County. Call our toll-free number 1-800-422-0374 for more information.."
- Link to Area Offices
URL: http://www.entrepreneurfund.org/contact.shtml
University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Community, Natural Resource and Economic Development
601 Extension Building, 432 N. Lake Street, Madison, WI 53706
Phone: (608) 262-3980
TTY: (608) 265-9317
Fax: (608) 265-4545
E-mail: info@uwex.edu
URL: http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/index.cfm
- Link to County Offices
URL: http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/cty/UW Cooperative Extension Center for Economic Development
610 Langdon Street, 3rd Floor, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 265 - 8136
Fax: (608) 263 - 4999
TTY: (800) 947-3529
E-mail: andersona@admin.uwex.edu
URL: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/cced/
UW Extension / Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension / Farm Options / Community Food Business Incubators
West Central Wisconsin Community Action Agency (West CAP)
430 Crescent Street, P.O. Box 66, Menomonie, WI 54751
Phone: (715) 235-4511
Fax: (715) 235-9241
E-mail: mwarner@wcap.org
URL: http://www.wcap.orgWestern Dairyland Business Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. / Business Enterprise Center
23122 Whitehall Road, PO Box 125, Independence, WI 54747
Phone: (715) 985-2391 or (800) 782-1063
E-mail: info@westerndairyland.org
URL: http://www.westerndairyland.orgBuffalo, Eau Claire, Jackson, and Trempealeau counties located in West Central Wisconsin
- Business Enterprise Center
Farmer's Store Plaza, 202 Eau Claire Street, Suite 105, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (715) 832-6472Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council, Inc. is a private nonprofit community action agency. Western Dairyland was established June 6, 1966, under the Economic Opportunity Act to help disadvantaged individuals in Buffalo, Eau Claire, Jackson, and Trempealeau counties located in West Central Wisconsin. The agency's mission is to alleviate poverty related conditions and provide opportunities which enable people to advance economically and socially. The agency works with individuals as well as community organizations to improve the quality of life for all.
Wisconsin Communty Action Program Association (WISCAP)
Individual Development Account (IDA) Program
1310 Mendota Street #107, Madison, WI 53714-1039
Phone: 608) 244-4422
Fax: (608) 244-4064
E-mail: cvoigt@charterinternet.net
URL: http://www.wiscap.org/WISCAP, its member Community Action Agencies (CAAs), and the United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), in partnership with local financial institutions, the Office of Community Services (OCS) and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), have created a statewide program of Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) to provide additional asset-building opportunities to low-income families. Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are dedicated savings accounts opened at participating financial institutions by eligible working low-income persons. CAA IDA Projects will "match" deposits to the IDA on a 2:1 basis. Persons may deposit up to $1,000 of their earnings to their IDA within a two-year period receiving a maximum match of $2,000. Withdrawal of funds and receipt of the 2:1 match is limited to qualified "investments" for the purchase of a home, starting a small business, or post-secondary education expenses.
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
201 W. Washington Avenue, PO Box 7970, Madison, WI 53703
E-mail: ED@commerce.state.wi.us
Business Helpline: (800) 435-7287
Wisconsin Safety Consultation (WiSCon): (800) 947-0553
Fax Request Line: (608) 264-6154
URL: http://www.commerce.state.wi.us/
- Resources for the Wisconsin Entrepreneur
Entrepreneurs' Toolkit
URL: http://toolkit.wi.gov/
COMMERCE Information Now Available 24 Hours. Economic development information is available 24 hours a day with the Department of Commerce's (COMMERCE) Fax Request Hotline. By dialing (608) 264-6154, you will have access to information on Wisconsin's business climate, financial resources, technical assistance, and an introduction to COMMERCE. By following the prompts, you will be instructed to chose the items you want, and tell the system where to fax the documents back to you. Commerce also provides toll free access to specific program areas.
The Wisconsin Kitchen Incubator Network
URL: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/agmarkets/kitchdir.htmlAn informal directory of community commercial kitchen incubators
Wisconsin Telework Loan Program
Independence First
600 W. Virginia Street, Fourth Floor
Milwaukee, WI 53204-1516
Toll free: (800) 261-0800
Phone: (414) 226-8331
TTY: (414) 226-8331
Fax: (414) 291-7525
URL: http://www.independencefirst.org/print.asp?i=219
"The Wisconsin Telework Loan Program is a statewide, alternative loan program that allows Wisconsin residents with disabilities to purchase computers and other equipment needed to work from home or from other remote sites away from the office, such as work on the road or at a telework center."Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)
1915 North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414)-267-3151
Fax: (414) -372-2083
E-mail: info@wwbic.com
URL: http://www.wwbic.com/The Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation manages over $1.5 million dollars in loan funds. These loans are available to qualified businesses owned by women, people of color, and low-income individuals operating in the state of Wisconsin. WWBIC also provides assistance in creative loan packaging and pre-qualification for many of the government programs.
- Business Office
2745 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 263- 5450
Fax: (414) 263- 5456- Madison Office South Central Region Office
2300 S. Park St., Madison, WI 53717
Phone: (608) 257-5450
Fax: (608) 257-5454
Women's Business Incubator
Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative
Corporate Office
1915 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone: (414) 372-2142
Fax: (414) 372-2083
E-mail: incubator@wwbic.com
URL: http://www.wwbic.com/"The Professional Dimensions Women's Business Incubator houses 15 fully functional office spaces, as well as a beautifully designed conference room, and highly equipped business resource center. Tenants of the incubator have the opportunity to participate in all of WWBIC's programs, as well as having the opportunity to attend many conferences and professional networking events."
Click here to go to Resources for Small Business and Self-Employment