Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Department Presents Entrepreneurship Outreach Grants

MADISON— Five organizations are sharing $55,000 in grants to help promote entrepreneurship for low-income individuals, thanks to a grant from the Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

"Entrepreneurship for low-income persons is on the rise in Wisconsin," said DWD Secretary Jennifer Reinert. "We are excited about this opportunity to help even more low-income individuals explore the opportunity of becoming their own boss."

The 2000 Entrepreneurship Outreach Education Grant provides grants of $11,000 to five organizations that provide assistant to individuals seeking employment. The money is being used for training and consulting in business start-up and ownership for people considering entrepreneurship as a career and to train job center staff to provide assistance and referrals to local service providers.

Grantees for the 2000 Entrepreneurship Outreach Education Grant include:

• Social Development Commission working in partnership with OIC and UMOS Job Centers
• Kenosha County Job Center enhancing their current relationship with UW Kenosha Small Business Development Center
• UW Whitewater Small Business Development Center/Beloit Entrepreneur Development Center enhancing their current partnership with the Rock County Job Center
• CAP Services of Stevens Point working in partnership with the Marquette County Job Center
• CAP Services of Stevens Point working in partnership with the Waushara County Job Center

The grants make exploration of entreprenuership a viable option for low-income job center customers. For many of them, the traditional job market brings challenges with transportation, disabilities, or child care, that make self-employment a very attractive option.

Clients of Job Centers and Job Center partners receive:

Evaluations for potential entrepreneurs provided by industry professionals;
Classroom and one-to-one business planning assistance;
Financial literacy education;
Financial packaging assistance for viable business plans and;
Ongoing assistance from a professional after the business gets started.

About 90% of all businesses in Wisconsin employ less than 50 employees. "Small businesses have an enormous impact on the Wisconsin economy, and the amount of support they provide for our economy is tremendous," Secretary Reinert said. "These grants will ensure that Wisconsin’s strong history of entrepreneurship continues and that the idea of owning a small business can be more than just a dream."

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