Grants are an important source of money to small business owners and entrepreneurs. The Wisconsin Department of Administration and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation have taken the time to put together funding for an array of businesses, focusing on the businesses that were impacted by COVID-19. These financial resources differ per grant, but a lot of them are focused on rebuilding the revenue that was lost during the pandemic.
The Neighborhood Investment Fund is a grant fund that is offered to local and Tribal governments within Wisconsin. With over $200 million in aid provided through this program, the money will benefit neighborhoods that were impacted disproportionately by the pandemic. The grant will allow the investment for the construction of buildings or similar projects that benefit the community. The funding is provided by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
To be eligible for this grant program, you must be:
- Wisconsin local governmental units
- Federally Recognized Wisconsin Tribal governments
Rolling deadlines are in effect for the application process, as follows:
- Eligible Expense Incurred Period March 3, 2021 through December 31, 2024
- Grant Announcement Issue Date Thursday, September 30, 2021
- Application Form Live Thursday, September 30, 2021
- Webinar Tuesday, October 12, 2021 (tentative)
- Questions Due Monday, October 18, 2021 at 2:00 PM CDT
- Applications Due Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 2:00 PM CDT
- Notification of Award Issue Date December 2021 (estimate)
- Grant Agreement Execution December 2021 (estimate)
The purpose Event Venue Assistance Grant Program is to provide assistance to event venues due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. About $10 million in grants is available, funding for this assistance is provided by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
- Be a Wisconsin-based for-profit entity, non-governmental non-profit entity, or
individual - Own and operate an Event Venue
- Generate 33% or more of its revenue through ticket sales, venue rental fees, or
catering charges, associated with hosting live entertainment events such as
concerts, plays, or shows, or individual social events such as weddings, bar/bat
mitzvahs, or corporate parties. - If the applicant is an entity registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial
Institutions, it must have one of the following statuses as of the Grant
Announcement closing date: “restored to good standing”,
“incorporated/qualified/registered”, “organized”, or “registered”. - Started operating its Event Venue business prior to January 1, 2019, operated in
2020, and suffered an economic loss in 2020. - Cannot be on the lists: Wisconsin Department of Revenue Delinquent Taxpayer List, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Debarred Contractors List, Wisconsin Department of Administration Compliance Vendor Directory, or the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry.
- Grant Announcement Issue Date Thursday September 16, 2021
- Questions and Answers Posted on website as received
- Applications Due Friday October 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM CDT
- Notification of Award Issue Date October 2021 (estimate)
The Live Event Small Business Grant Program awards grants to small businesses who provide a significant portion of their goods or services to various Live Events. About $12 million in grants is available, funding for this assistance is provided to Wisconsin by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
- Be a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or joint venture whose principal place of business is in Wisconsin. If the applicant is a business owned by an individual(s), each owner must be a resident of the State of Wisconsin
- If the applicant is an entity is registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, it must have one of the following statuses as of the Grant Announcement closing date: “restored to good standing”, “incorporated/qualified/registered”, “organized”, or “registered”.
- Cannot be on the lists: Wisconsin Department of Revenue Delinquent Taxpayer List, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Debarred Contractors List, Wisconsin Department of Administration Compliance Vendor Directory, or the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry.
- The business started operating prior to January 1, 2020, operated in 2020, and suffered an economic loss in 2020.
- The business generates 50% or more of its revenue through provision of goods and/or services to Live Events.
- Grant Announcement Issue Date Thursday September 16, 2021
- Applications Due Friday October 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM CDT
- Notification of Award Issue Date October 2021 (estimate)
The purpose of this grant is to provide eligible Wisconsin movie theater operators with assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is about $11.25 million in grant funding, which is made possible by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act.
- If the applicant is an entity is registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, it must have one of the following statuses as of the Grant Announcement closing date: “restored to good standing”, “incorporated/qualified/registered”, “organized”, or “registered”.
- Cannot be on the lists: Wisconsin Department of Revenue Delinquent Taxpayer List, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Debarred Contractors List, Wisconsin Department of Administration Compliance Vendor Directory, or the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry.
- The business started operating prior to January 1, 2020, operated in 2020, and suffered an economic loss in 2020.
- Own and operate permanent movie theaters in Wisconsin.
- Grant Announcement Issue Date Thursday September 16, 2021
- Applications Due Friday October 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM CDT
- Notification of Award Issue Date October 2021 (estimate)
The purpose of this program is to provide eligible minor league sports teams in Wisconsin assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. About $2.8 million is distributed in grants, funding is provided to Wisconsin by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
An eligible business must:
- Applicant must own the minor sports team
- The team must identify itself as a Wisconsin-based team and must play its “home” games in a stadium or other sports facility located in Wisconsin.
- The team must have played before admission-paying spectators and have had a total season attendance of not less than 10,000 and not more than 300,000 during 2019.
- If the entity owning the team is registered with the Wisconsin Department of
Financial Institutions, it must have one of the following statuses as of the Grant
Announcement closing date: “restored to good standing”,
“incorporated/qualified/registered”, “organized”, or “registered”. - The entity or individual(s) owning the team must not be on one of the following lists, Wisconsin Department of Revenue Delinquent Taxpayer List, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Debarred Contractors List, Wisconsin Department of Administration Compliance Vendor Directory, and/or Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry.
- The team started operating in Wisconsin prior to January 1, 2020 operated in Wisconsin in 2020, and suffered an economic loss in 2020.
- The entity or individuals owning the team filled their 2019 and 2020 federal and Wisconsin income tax returns.
- Grant Announcement Issue Date Thursday September 16, 2021
- Applications Due Friday, October 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM CDT
- Notification of Award Issue Date October 2021 (estimate)
The purpose of this program is to provide owners of summer camps located in Wisconsin with assistance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. About $8 million in grants is given to owners of summer camps located in Wisconsin. Funding is provided by the Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Eligible applicants must be U.S.-incorporated companies with:
- Be an individual or entity that owns and operates a Summer Camp located in Wisconsin that, prior to COVID-19 pandemic, was operated for a minimum of 21 contiguous or non-contiguous days during the summer months (June 1 through August 31).
- Hold a current recreational and educational camp license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
- If the applicant is an entity registered with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, it must have one of the following statuses as of the Grant Announcement closing date, “restored to good standing”, “incorporated/qualified/registered”, “organized”, or “registered”.
- Must not be on one of the following lists, Wisconsin Department of Revenue Delinquent Taxpayer List, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Debarred Contractors List, Wisconsin Department of Administration Compliance Vendor Directory, Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry
- Started operating its Summer Camp prior to January 1, 2020, currently remains in operation, and suffered an economic loss in 2020.
- Grant Announcement Issue Date Thursday September 16, 2021
- Applications Due Friday October 15, 2021 at 2:00 PM CDT
- Notification of Award Issue Date October 2021(estimate)
The Workforce Innovation Grant Program is a collaboration between the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). This program provides about $10 million grants to regional organizations to implement innovative plans that help solve the workforce challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has caused in their regions.
To be eligible for this grant program businesses must:
- Address a region’s most pressing pandemic-related workforce challenge and offer a solution specific to the region’s needs. This could include training, reskilling initiatives for in-demand jobs, career counseling or coaching services, access to transit or broadband solutions, childcare solutions or supportive services.
- Applications for Round 1 are due no later than 5:00 PM CST on October 25, 2021
- Round 1 awards are announced in mid-November 2021
- Round 2 application date details will be announced in 2022.
The Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance Program is meant for eligible households that have been impacted by COVID-19 and are needing assistance to help with current or overdue bills. The applicant may receive up to 12 months of assistance for utilities (energy, water, etc. ), rent payments, and services to help you stay in your home.
To be eligible for this grant program individuals must
- Qualifies for unemployment or has experienced a reduction in household income, experienced major costs, or experienced financial struggles due to COVID-19.
- Demonstrates a risk of being evicted or losing your home
- Has a household income at or below 80 percent of the county median.
- Deadline was not expressed via website
1 comment
What about the everyday senior citizen who hasn’t gotten a raise in 2 years and worked through the pandemic, makes minimum wage at a committed job for 30 years. Spouse is disabled and in a fixed income. Come on! Where’s the help?