WWBIC - Southwest

Crawford, Grant, Juneau, Iowa, La Crosse, Lafayette, Monroe, Richland, and Vernon Counties

The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) is a leading-edge economic development corporation that has been encouraging entrepreneurship, opportunity, and success for over 35 years.

WWBIC’s regional office in Southwest Wisconsin serves emerging and existing small business owners (women and men) by providing quality business education, one-on-one business assistance, direct loans and access to other capital, financial awareness and asset-building programming.

WWBIC’s office in La Crosse is part of a nationwide network of Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership (OWBO). The WBC program was founded to foster the growth of women-owned businesses by providing access to education, training, mentoring, business development and financing opportunities to women throughout the United States and its territories.

We work with businesses in all market sectors, in any phase of development. Our clients include start-ups, established entrepreneurs, expanding businesses, and individuals seeking to improve their financial well-being.

Contact Us for Small Business Assistance

If you’re interested in starting a business, expanding an existing business, or require assistance with managing, marketing, product development or other business issues, please give us a call or send us an email detailing your business needs.


Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm
Or by appointment

Contact Info:

Project Director: Kara Schuster

3500 State Road 16
La Crosse, WI 54601
General Information: 608-668-4400

Unique Services in our Southwest Office

While WWBIC welcomes everyone to participate in our programs, we focus our efforts on working with women, people of color, veterans and those who may be overcoming barriers in reaching their entrepreneurial dreams.

Rural Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship doesn’t stop at the city line! Home-based business, small-scale agricultural and arts businesses are only the tip of rural business opportunities. Through technology and strong partnerships with local economic development organizations and financial institutions, WWBIC expands our services into counties beyond our regional offices. Our La Crosse location is the primary point of contact for rural entrepreneurs throughout southwest Wisconsin.

Our Business Services

Business Education and Workshops
We offer a wide variety of workshops/trainings — from one-hour presentations to trainings that last several weeks. Prices vary depending on the topics and the duration of training. Many of our workshops are no cost. Reduced-fee scholarships are available for low-income households. Check the WWBIC calendar and home page for upcoming events.

Business Loans
WWBIC offers direct business loans from $1,000 – $250,000. Loans are available to both women and men, for viable, for-profit ventures located in Wisconsin. For more information and our online application, check our Business Lending page.

Financial Awareness/Personal Money Management Programs
WWBIC recognizes the importance of strong personal credit and money management skills in helping future dreams come true… whether that’s starting a business, buying a home, pursuing a college degree or other dream. Throughout our regions, WWBIC offers a comprehensive money management course, Make Your Money Talk, for individuals looking to shore up their personal finances. See our WWBIC calendar for upcoming events.

Business Counseling and Networking Opportunities
Individualized and small-group counseling is available to eligible businesses. One key feature of WWBIC’s loan program is the availability of business coaches to assist during the life of the loan. Networking events, such as WWBIC’s Annual Luncheon, are opportunities for clients to showcase their products and services to a broad audience.

Wisconsin Save$
Wisconsin Save$ is a statewide initiative devoted to promoting financial awareness and encouraging financial action among people of all economic levels. Through resources and access to diverse products, Wisconsin Save$ believes that anyone can build wealth by developing positive spending and saving habits. So don’t wait any longer… enroll in Wisconsin Save$ today!

Not in the Southwest Wisconsin area?
WWBIC has additional offices in Milwaukee, MadisonKenosha & Racine, and Appleton/Green Bay.

WWBIC is an equal opportunity provider.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made upon request with at least two weeks’ notice. Please contact your local WWBIC office for arrangements.

Through a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) cooperative agreement, WWBIC is partially funded by the SBA. SBA’s funding is not an endorsement of any products, opinions or services. SBA funded programs are offered to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

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