Existing Racine County Businesses are the primary source of investment and job growth in our community. RCEDC’s staff connects local businesses with the right technical and financial resources to meet your company’s growth and expansion goals.
| Description | Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| Land & Building Searches | Assistance with identifying potential land sites or buildings to meet the needs of your expansion or relocation project. | Jordan Brown Business Recruitment Specialist, RCEDC 262-898-7444 |
| Talent Attraction, Development, and Retention | Access key programs in Racine County to attract, develop and retain employees at your facility. | Cassandra Glenn Economic Development Specialist, RCEDC 262-898-7438 |
| Research Assistance | Basic research including: economic, demographic and workforce data; market profiles and studies; and supply chain information. | Laura Million Business Development Manager, RCEDC 262-898-7530 |
| Low-Interest Loans | Low interest loans to finance real estate purchases, renovation, and new construction; equipment; furniture and fixtures; and in some cases working capital. Projects are financed in partnership with primary lenders. | Wesley Walsh Business Lending Partners 262-898-7436 |
| State and Local Incentives | Tax credits, low-interest loans, and financial assistance available through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and local municipalities to companies expanding or relocating to Wisconsin. | Laura Million Business Development Manager, RCEDC 262-898-7530 |
| Racine County Matching Grant | Up to $5,000 in grants to qualifying manufacturing, women owned, and minority owned firms to assist with business growth activities including training, consulting, and marketing. Must have less than 200 employees and less than $25M in sales. | Andrea Safedis Business Lending Partners 262-898-7422 |
| Customized Training & Business Resources | GTC offers access to resources to assist businesses in areas including: customized training; business planning and mentoring; product development; professional development; and technical courses and certifications. | Robin Widmar Account Manager, Gateway Technical College 262-898-7548 |
In addition to traditional financial and technical assistance programs, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE), defined as ethnic minority, women, and disabled veteran-owned firms, can access targeted programs and resources tailored to support DBE’s. The following list of partner organizations and resources have been collected to help guide DBE companies.
- Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Program Business Certification Program
- HUB Zone Program: Specific to businesses located in historically underutilized business areas
Ethnic Minority-Owned Business Focus
| Source | Description | Contact | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Planning & Workshops | Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) | Expertise in business planning, financing and accessing resources that can assist with starting and growing a business. | WWBIC, Racine Office www.wwbic.com 262-898-5000 |
| Business Start-up Questions | Wisconsin Small Business Answer Line | Helps established, new and aspiring business owners at no cost! Answer Line staff draw from extensive curated resources to provide timely answers to your business questions. | 800-940-7232 wisconsinsbdc.org/business-answerline |
| Customer Diversification, Market, Distribution and New Product Assessments | Wisconsin Innovation Service Center | Qualitative research to help companies make informed decisions on market opportunities, customers and competition. Inventors can see the feasibility of a new product idea, identify licensing partners, and solve manufacturing challenges. | Center for Innovation and Business Development, UW-Whitewater www.uww.edu/wisc innovate@uww.edu, 262-472-3265 |
| Entrepreneurial How-To Video Series | Small Business Development Center | Explore complex but important topics – Law, Lending and Accounting – in an approachable way on your own time. | Entrepreneurial How-To Video Series |
| Export Assistance | Wisconsin Go Global Initiative | Access import and export documentation, shipping logistics and distribution information, trade grants, market intelligence and trade data, and other consulting resources to help your business reach new markets. | Wisconsin SBDC Go GLobal wisconsinsbdc.org/goglobal |
| ExporTech | WMEP | Join a carefully selected group of up to eight non-competitive manufacturers where you identify your gaps and hurdles to expansion and develop your customized export plan to dramatically drive growth. | WMEP www.wmep.org Roxanne Baumann Director of Global Engagement, WMEP 262.442.8279, baumann@wmep.org |
| Financial Capability Workshops | Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) | Assistance with personal finances including topics such as budgeting, repairing and understanding your credit and protecting your identity. In-person and online on-demand workshops are available. | WWBIC www.wwbic.com Heather Lux 262-898-5001, Heather.lux@wwbic.com |
| Food and Beverage Industries | Food and Beverage (FAB) Wisconsin | Resources focused to assist businesses in the food and beverage industry, including an accelerator, “how-to” series for small businesses, technical assistance, and networking. | FAB Wisconsin www.fabwisconsin.com |
| Food Finance Institute | Food Finance Institute | Offers financial resources to every growing food, beverage and value-added farm enterprise. | Edible Alpha ediblealpha.org Food Finance Institute foodfinanceinstitute.org info@foodfinanceinstitute.org (608) 263-0398 |
| Government Contracting and Procurement | Wisconsin Procurement Institute | Assists Wisconsin companies with Government contracting, helping firms successfully enter and develop their Government market segment. More information available at: www.wispro.org | Wisconsin Procurement Institute www.wispro.org 414-270-3600, INFO@WISPRO.ORG |
| Manufacturing Resources | Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership | Provide a variety of services to assist Wisconsin Manufacturers to grow their operations. Services include company consultations and resources for continuous improvement, Lean Six Sigma, supply chain, human capital, automation, ExporTech and many others. www.wmep.org | WMEP |
| Mentoring | SCORE | One-on-one, long-term business mentoring and consulting. | SCORE Website To get connected to a local SCORE mentor call: 866-548-4358 counseling.28@scorevolunteer.org |
| Personal Financial Assistance | Green Path | One-on-one free credit counseling, specializing in helping eliminate credit card debt, student loan debt and assisting homeowners with avoiding foreclosure. | Green Path Financial Wellness 800-550-1961 GreenPath.com |
| Personal Financial Assistance | Financial Empowerment Center | Offers free one-on-one financial counseling to the City of Racine residents. | Financial Empowerment Center |
| Prototypes & Product Development | Gateway Technical College | Computer-controlled tools to inspire innovation through prototyping. | Fab Lab Program 262-898-7562 www.gtc.edu/business-community |
| Startup & Entrepreneurial Services | UW-Parkside Small Business Development Center (SBDC) | Coaching and guidance; financial lending assistance; business/marketing/strategic planning; business plans; market analysis; growth assistance for existing business and tech venture support. | UW-Parkside SBDC www.uwp.edu |
| Technology Innovation Research Funding Assistance | The Center for Commercial Innovation | Provides one-on-one assistance to early-stage emerging technology businesses throughout Wisconsin. Center consultants are experts in commercialization processes and Federal Grant opportunities and processes. | The Center for Commercial Innovation wisconsinsbir.org |
| Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) | Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) | Business development services to active duty service members, including Guard and Reserve, Veterans and family members of both. Resources include Boots to Business, business training, counseling, assistance with loans, and assistance with veteran’s business certification. | WWBIC/VBOC www.wwbic.com 414-263-5450 |
| Water Technology Resources | The Water Council | Promotes the growth and development of small and medium businesses operating in the water technology sector in the Great Lakes region. Connects small and medium-sized businesses to critical resources such as capital, training, networks, supply chains and technical assistance. | The Water Council thewatercouncil.com Karen Frost, kfrost@thewatercouncil.com |
| Wisconsin One Stop Business Portal | State of Wisconsin | Wisconsin’s businesses can find the requirements and tools they need to start a business in Wisconsin. | Wisconsin One Stop business Portal |
In 2018, after a full kitchen renovation, Spanky’s began serving their now-famous thin-crust pizza, which, along with other homemade favorites, helped cement their reputation as a neighborhood staple. By 2020, the Allens purchased the property they had been leasing, but demand soon outgrew the space. With carryout orders booming and long wait times becoming common, a larger facility became essential to meet growing demand and streamline operations.
Melissa Poeschel, with nearly 20 years of baking experience, founded Baking Bird and launched her bakery company in her home. With growing success, she and her husband Chris decided to expand their business into a commercial space in downtown Union Grove. In June 2022, Baking Bird opened and offered from-scratch baked goods like bagels, cupcakes, and cinnamon rolls.
Lee & Associates of Illinois and Cushman & Wakefield Boerke of Wisconsin in partnership with the Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) held its 9th annual Real Estate Showcase on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at Gateway Technical College iMET Center in Sturtevant, WI.
Located along I-94, in the fast-growing corridor between Chicago and Milwaukee, Racine County is the ideal place to live, work and do business. Check out the latest RRCEDC news, and resources in this quarterly Newsletter.
Job boards offer a cost-effective way for companies to reach a wide pool of active job seekers, but standing out amidst the competition can be challenging. Crafting job postings that reflect your organization's culture and values is key to attracting top talent.
Located along I-94, in the fast-growing corridor between Chicago and Milwaukee, Racine County is the ideal place to live, work and do business. Check out the latest development insights, news, and resources in this edition of the RCEDC Development Newsletter.
Paul Sanchez's entrepreneurial journey began in 2010 when he founded Righteous Autos Inc., an auto repair and sales business that began in a one-car garage near Downtown Racine.
Priscella K. White, a seasoned healthcare professional, started her business, Above & Beyond Adult Family Home (Above & Beyond), in 2011. The business was established to provide full-time care for elderly individuals with disabilities.
Located along I-94, in the fast-growing corridor between Chicago and Milwaukee, Racine County is the ideal place to live, work and do business. Check out the latest development insights, news, and resources in this edition of the RCEDC Development Newsletter.
Located along I-94, in the fast-growing corridor between Chicago and Milwaukee, Racine County is the ideal place to live, work and do business. Check out the latest development insights, news, and resources in this edition of the RCEDC Development Newsletter.
The Village of Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC), and Milwaukee 7 (M7) announced plans for Microsoft to significantly expand its investment in Mount Pleasant.
Located along I-94, in the fast-growing corridor between Chicago and Milwaukee, Racine County is the ideal place to live, work and do business. Check out the latest development insights, news, and resources in this edition of the RCEDC Development Newsletter.
- Tax-deductible contribution (RCEDC is a 501C(3) org.)
- Discounted admission to all RCEDC events
- Support RCEDC’s mission
- Marketing of your company to RCEDC prospects
- Highlight your company as a preferred resource
