Grants for Communities, Businesses, and Entrepreneurs

GrantID: 69958

Grant Funding Amount Low: $5,000

Deadline: Ongoing

Grant Amount High: $5,000,000

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Grant Application – Apply Here

Summary

There are a variety of grant opportunities aimed at supporting community growth, business development, and individual innovation. These programs are designed to strengthen local economies, improve infrastructure, and foster entrepreneurship. Funding is available to municipalities, local governments, Tribal entities, nonprofits, business organizations, and in some cases, individuals. The grants vary in size and are tailored to the scope and impact of the proposed project.


Some grants focus on helping communities attract major events and economic activity, supporting efforts that increase visibility, draw visitors, and create local economic benefits. Others prioritize redevelopment and revitalization, including historic preservation, infrastructure improvements, and enhancement of public spaces to encourage community engagement and improve quality of life. Additional programs support the remediation and productive reuse of underutilized or contaminated properties, helping municipalities and businesses transform sites into valuable community assets.


Entrepreneurship and innovation are supported through initiatives that strengthen startup ecosystems, encourage commercialization, and foster collaborative projects. Workforce and talent development programs help attract new residents and strengthen local labor pipelines, often providing assistance to nonprofits and local organizations involved in workforce growth. Capacity-building grants are available for planning, feasibility studies, and strategic development to help organizations operate more effectively and achieve measurable outcomes.


Small businesses are supported through funding aimed at improving access to capital and providing direct assistance for business creation, expansion, or revitalization. These programs often require that funds be passed directly to local businesses and are structured to encourage growth and innovation, particularly in underserved communities.


Overall, these grants are intended to foster sustainable economic growth, community revitalization, and long-term job creation. Applicants are generally expected to demonstrate measurable impact, and some programs may require local matching contributions or partnerships. The funding opportunities are open to a broad range of entities and initiatives, creating flexibility for communities, organizations, and entrepreneurs to pursue meaningful projects.


To find more grants, go to The Grant Portal and use the Search Grant tool to find your next grant.

Eligible Regions

Interests

Eligible Requirements

📌 Organization Profile: Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)

Name: Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)

About: The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is Wisconsin’s lead economic development agency, providing businesses, communities, and entrepreneurs with financial incentives, technical assistance, grants, loans, and partnerships that cultivate economic growth across the state.

Mission / Focus: WEDC’s mission is to foster sustainable economic growth, support business creation and expansion, enhance community revitalization, and promote innovation, competitiveness, and job creation in Wisconsin through strategic investments and resources.

Background: Established in 2011 as a public‑private corporation, WEDC collaborates with hundreds of partners statewide to deliver economic development programs that help businesses grow, communities thrive, and entrepreneurs succeed.

Types of Grants: WEDC administers a wide range of grant programs including redevelopment aid, business support, workforce/talent initiatives, environmental and site remediation, community capacity building, entrepreneurial ecosystem strengthening, and small business development.


📍 📊 Opportunity Attraction Fund
Grant URL: wedc.org/programs/opportunity-attraction-fund/
Funding Priorities & Interests: Supports Wisconsin communities and organizations in attracting major events and economic opportunities that generate visibility, visitation, and local economic impact.
Eligibility: Wisconsin cities, villages, towns, counties, Tribal entities, visitor bureaus, business improvement districts, and private entities.
Eligible Locations: Projects must benefit Wisconsin communities.
Funding Amounts: Up to $100,000 for bid costs; up to $5 million for hosting expenses; non‑WEDC matching funds required.
Proposal Deadlines: Competitive cycle varies by opportunity notices.


📍 🏙️ Community Development Investment (CDI) Grant
Grant URL: wedc.org/programs/community-development-investment-grant/
Funding Priorities & Interests: Supports redevelopment and revitalization with measurable community and economic impact, including historic preservation and infrastructure enhancements.
Eligibility: Local governments and community development organizations in Wisconsin.
Eligible Locations: Urban, small city, and rural communities in Wisconsin.
Funding Amounts: Varies based on project scope and impact.
Proposal Deadlines: Annual application cycles aligned with WEDC fiscal year.


📍 🌆 Vibrant Spaces Grant — CDI Subset
Grant URL: wedc.org/programs/vibrant-spaces-grant/
Funding Priorities & Interests: Enhances community gathering spots and public spaces that support resident engagement and quality of life.
Eligibility: Wisconsin municipalities; one application per municipality per fiscal year.
Eligible Locations: Communities in Wisconsin.
Funding Amounts: $25,000 to $50,000; community matching required.
Proposal Deadlines: Annually during WEDC’s grant cycle.

📍 🏗️ Idle Sites Redevelopment Program
Grant URL: wedc.org/programs/idle-sites-redevelopment-program/
Funding Priorities & Interests: Encourages remediation and productive reuse of idle industrial, institutional, and commercial properties.
Eligibility: Cities, villages, towns, counties, and Tribal entities in Wisconsin.
Eligible Locations: Wisconsin.
Funding Amounts: Up to $250,000 per site.
Proposal Deadlines: Annually determined.


📍 🧪 Brownfields Grant Program
Grant URL: wedc.org/programs/brownfields-grant-program/
Funding Priorities & Interests: Supports cleanup of contaminated sites to enable redevelopment and reuse.
Eligibility: Municipal entities, Tribal governments, individuals, and businesses meeting site criteria.
Eligible Locations: Wisconsin.
Funding Amounts: Up to approximately $250,000.
Proposal Deadlines: Annually determined.

📍 🚀 Ignite Wisconsin (Entrepreneurship & Innovation)
Grant URL: wedc.org/programs/ignite-wisconsin/
Funding Priorities & Interests: Strengthens regional entrepreneurial ecosystems through collaborative projects that expand startup support and commercialization.
Eligibility: Regional ecosystem partners and consortia.
Eligible Locations: Wisconsin regions.
Funding Amounts: $200,000 to $2 million; four to six awards expected.


📍 🌍 Talent Recruitment Grant
Grant URL: wedc.org/programs/talent-recruitment-grant/
Funding Priorities & Interests: Supports initiatives that attract new residents and strengthen local workforce pipelines.
Eligibility: Communities, Tribal entities, and nonprofits focused on workforce development.
Eligible Locations: Wisconsin.
Funding Amounts: Varies by community plan.
Proposal Deadlines: Annual cycle.

📍 📈 Capacity Building Grants
Grant URL: wedc.org/programs/capacity-building-grants/
Funding Priorities & Interests: Helps regional development organizations with planning, feasibility studies, assessments, and strategic enhancements.
Eligibility: Economic development partners and organizations.
Eligible Locations: Wisconsin.
Funding Amounts: Typically up to $50,000; matching funds encouraged.
Proposal Deadlines: Annual cycle.


📍 💼 Small Business Development Grant (SBDG)
Grant URL: wedc.org/programs/small-business-development-grant/
Funding Priorities & Interests: Encourages communities and economic development partners to develop programs that broaden access to capital and direct support for small businesses and small business creation. Program goals focus on increasing capital access and innovative local business support.
Eligibility: Local and regional economic development organizations, municipalities, Tribal governments, counties, and membership organizations that administer programs for small business support.
Eligible Locations: Projects must benefit small businesses located in Wisconsin.
Funding Amounts: Awards range from $50,000 to $250,000 per organization/program; WEDC allocates significant annual funding.
Use of Funds: Can support matching grant programs (like startup, façade, and expansion grants) or direct financing programs for businesses with fewer than 25 full‑time employees; funds must be passed 100% through to small businesses.
Proposal Deadlines: Annual competitive application periods determined by WEDC each fiscal year.
Notes: Matching funds are not required but may increase scoring; priority may be given to applicants without prior funding and to programs serving rural or diverse small businesses.



Go to the organization’s website for additional information/updates.


Overview

This grant is meant to financially support organizations or entities that focus their efforts on, but not limited to: Awards, Business & Commerce, Community Development & Services, Community/Economic Development, Employment, Labor & Training Workforce, Individual, Municipalities, Non-Profit Support Services, Other, Small Business.