WWBIC to Launch The Resiliency Grant for NE WI Rural Microenterprises

WWBIC to Launch The Resiliency Grant for NE WI Rural Microenterprises

WWBIC to Launch The Resiliency Grant for NE WI Rural Microenterprises

The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) has received funding from Calumet County CDBG allocations to launch the Resiliency Grant for NE WI Rural Microenterprises to assist small and micro business owners whose business has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic/economic crisis.

Calumet County has approved $780,000 for small business assistance grants. These grants will range from $6,000 to $12,000 to each business. Grants can be used for assistance with, but not limited to, past due payroll, rent, lease or utility payments, business supplies, inventory, business operating expenses.

Ineligible uses include construction of interior or exterior property as well as other non-COVID related business debt.


How will this program work and who is eligible?

WWBIC will be handling the application and distribution of the grants, as well as follow up technical assistance such as business coaching and mentorship opportunities. Additional information on this funding opportunity can be found here: bit.ly/neresiliencygrants.

Funds will be targeted to for-profit, existing small businesses (not start-up) located in Calumet and Outagamie County, City of Menasha, City of New London, and Village of Fox Crossing.  EXCLUDES City of Appleton

Business has 5 or fewer employees, including the owner.

Business must meet low-to-moderate income qualifications for their respective county.

Business must be able to document how the business has been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Interested small business owners, please review all requirements for eligibility and all documents needed for the application at: bit.ly/neresiliencygrants.


When will the application be available?

The application will be available on Wednesday, July 14 2021 at noon. All applications will be reviewed in the order they are received (time stamped) and will be equitably considered. The application will remain open until noon on Friday July 30, 2021.

Priority period: July 14 – July 16.

WWBIC will accept applications from all eligible applicants, but only process and fund priority group applications during the priority period. Women owned, Veteran Owned, Socially disadvantaged individual and economically disadvantaged individuals.


For additional information or questions about applying for the Resiliency Grant for NE WI Rural Microenterprises, please contact Colleen Bies, Regional Project Director, at cbies@wwbic.com or 920-944-2710.

According to Mary Kohrell, Calumet County’s Economic Development Director, “we know there are many businesses in our service region that are still feeling the affects of COVID-19, especially the smallest of the small businesses.  I’m so excited to get these grants out to our qualifying businesses, and WWBIC has the perfect team to make it happen!”

“We know that we can accomplish much more collectively through partnerships, and thus WWBIC is grateful to have such a relationship with Outagamie and Calumet Counties to advance dollars to our rural communities.  Small businesses are the heart of our economy and these dollars will help leverage the recovery efforts that are needed now more than ever to assist with resiliency and sustainability to our small businesses,” said Kamaljit Jackson, Vice President for Programs and Operations.

WWBIC names Mara Keyes as Regional Project Director for Southwest Region

WWBIC names Mara Keyes as Regional Project Director for Southwest Region

WWBIC names Mara Keyes as Regional Project Director for Southwest Region

WWBIC is excited to announce the addition of Mara Keyes as the new Regional Project Director for the Southwest Wisconsin region. 

While Mara is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, she instantly fell in love with Wisconsin’s driftless landscape upon her first visit to La Crosse.   

Studying political science as a major, she graduated from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2015.  To assure a well-rounded education, she complemented her in-class studies through real-life experiences by studying abroad through a HECUA program in New Zealand.  

She began her professional tenure with a small local ecommerce business in Fountain City, Wisconsin and completed the last five years with Kaplan Professional located in La Crosse, Wisconsin in online operations management building educational projects and online courses.  

She is excited to join the WWBIC team and expand the lending, support and education services to businesses in the Southwest region of Wisconsin. Mara is an avid chef, curling enthusiast, and discovering new hiking spots along the river.  

“Mara exudes the passion, drive, and commitment to serving the community at large. We are fortunate to have landed her in this leadership position and welcome her to the WWBIC family. We look forward to all the amazing things she will lead in Southwest, Wisconsin,” said Kamaljit Jackson, Vice President for Programs and Operations.  

  

Making a Splash: WWBIC Southwest La Crosse Grand Opening

Making a Splash: WWBIC Southwest La Crosse Grand Opening

Making a Splash: WWBIC Southwest La Crosse Grand Opening

Join WWBIC as we officially celebrate the opening of WWBIC’s 6th Wisconsin office serving our Southwest Region, specifically Crawford, Grant, Juneau, Iowa, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Richland, and Vernon counties. As an official Women’s Business Center (WBC) powered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) this office will support entrepreneurs with entrepreneurship education, training programs, lending, coaching, and financial wellness.

WWBIC was awarded funding for its new WBC in October 2020 and hit the ground running in the search for a location that would be centrally located ensuring ease of accessibility for our clients. The office is situated in an unused BMO Harris Bank building in La Crosse, and is equipped with ample space for in-person classes and events.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with the location and are grateful for our solid partnership with BMO, who is always working alongside us to serve the needs of the community,” said Wendy K. Baumann, President and Chief Visionary Officer.

Members of the community are invited to WWBIC’s Southwest Office Community Grand Opening Open House on Monday, June 28th. The event will run from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm with a short program beginning at noon.

Stop in to meet WWBIC’s leadership team and find out about the many services WWBIC provides to help entrepreneurs start, strengthen or grow their small businesses.

WWBIC
3500 State Road 16
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-668-4400

Light refreshments available.  Please RSVP at bit.ly/WWBICSW

“The pandemic, social, and economic challenges that we faced as a community, state, and nation has been exhausting and the grand opening of this office showcases that we are resilient and that our collective efforts do remain strong in times of plenty, but even more so during scarcity. WWBIC has been here and will be here for generations to come to continue the impactful work to serve women, people of color, low-income individuals, and veterans. None of this would be possible without our solid and impactful partnership with the La Crosse community. We look forward to amplifying our impact in the region to help support small business sustainability and growth,” said Wendy K. Baumann, President and Chief Visionary Officer.

Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation Receives $500,000 Investment From Otto Bremer Trust to Support Small Businesses

Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation Receives $500,000 Investment From Otto Bremer Trust to Support Small Businesses

Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation Receives $500,000 Investment From Otto Bremer Trust to Support Small Businesses

PRI and Grant Will Provide Capital, Technical Assistance to Diverse and Disadvantaged Small Businesses

 

MILWAUKEE, June 14, 2021 – The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, the state’s largest SBA microlender, has received a $500,000 investment from Otto Bremer Trust to provide responsible loan capital for diverse and disadvantaged small businesses in Wisconsin that are unable to access bank financing.

The investment includes a $400,000 program-related investment to be loaned to small business owners, supported by a $100,000 grant that will provide one-on-one technical business counseling and access to business education, networks, volunteers and other resources for those receiving loans through the program-related investment.

“We are gratified by the investment that the Otto Bremer Trust has made in WWBIC and our commitment to help entrepreneurs and small business owners in communities of color across the state,” said Wendy Baumann, President and CVO, Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation. “These loans will impact businesses started, strengthened and expanded as well as jobs created and retained by them.”

During times of economic challenge, WWBIC has been the front line for economic development for entrepreneurs and small business owners of color. Demand for capital and business assistance took on even greater urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic and the attendant economic and social justice crises that followed. WWBIC staff have consciously worked against structural inequities and are recognized for their expertise in effectively coaching low-income and disadvantaged target populations to successful entrepreneurship.

“WWBIC has an impressive track record of improving the well-being of individuals by advancing inclusive entrepreneurship and facilitating self-sufficiency strategies,” said Daniel Reardon, Co-CEO and Trustee, Otto Bremer Trust. “This investment will provide access to fair and responsible capital coupled with business education and technical assistance.”

 

 

About WWBIC

Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC) is a leading, innovative economic development corporation “Putting Dreams to Work.” WWBIC’s primary focus is on women, people of color and low- income individuals, providing direct lending and access to fair and responsible capital, quality business education, one-on-one technical business assistance and education to increase financial capability.  Since 1987, WWBIC has lent over $82 million in micro and small business loans with a current loan portfolio of $23.5 million and over 564 active borrowers.  To learn more about WWBIC visit: www.wwbic.com 

 

About the Otto Bremer Trust

The Otto Bremer Trust is a bank holding company and a private charitable trust based in Saint Paul, Minn., that works at the intersection of finance and philanthropy. Created in 1944 by Otto Bremer, it is today one of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations and is committed to supporting a better quality of life for residents of Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. OBT is the majority owner of Bremer Financial Corporation, a regional financial services company; manages a diversified investment portfolio; and operates Community Benefit Financial Company, a financial resources subsidiary. Since its founding, OBT has invested more than $841 million in people, places, and opportunities in the Upper Midwest. Visit ottobremer.org.

WWBIC names Colleen Bies as Regional Project Director for Northeast Region

WWBIC names Colleen Bies as Regional Project Director for Northeast Region

WWBIC names Colleen Bies as Regional Project Director for Northeast Region

WWBIC is excited to announce the addition of Colleen Bies as the new Regional Project Director for the Northeast Wisconsin region. 
 
Following twelve years serving in the Army National Guard and while simultaneously earning a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA, Colleen left her corporate finance job to pursue a path in entrepreneurship. In this new chapter, she founded Colleen Bies Photography and opened a brick-and-mortar tea shop in Downtown Appleton. 
 
Colleen led a group of creative entrepreneurs; mentored, educated, and supported other small business owners and received recognition as one of Fox Valley’s Future 15. In light of the pandemic and realizing the need for business education amongst small business owners; primarily those in underserved communities; she sought out an opportunity to positively impact those individuals and found WWBIC to be that path to help serve small businesses. 
 
“Colleen’s passion to serve is ubiquitous from her tenure with the Army National Guard to her own path to entrepreneurship.  Her experience in leading and mentoring entrepreneurs speaks to her unwavering commitment to ensure underserved individuals receive equitable access to support and services.  She is a welcome addition to WWBIC and through her leadership we will continue to ensure WWBIC’s far-reaching impact across Northeast Wisconsin,” said Kamaljit Jackson, Vice President for Programs and Operations.