State Assistance

The Wisconsin Department of Commerce has a broad range of financial assistance programs to help businesses. You can contact the EDCMC for more information and assistance with any of these programs.

A number of state programs are administered locally. See Local Assistance for details.

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-ED)
Economic Development Tax Credit
Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB)
Tax Incremental Financing (TIF)

Additional State Programs

Economic Development Tax Credit targets manufacturers and businesses that create jobs, invest capital, provide training and retraining to incumbent workers, and would retain jobs in companies with corporate headquarters in Wisconsin. It will also support economic growth in rural areas and for small manufacturers and businesses. Tax credits have a 15-year carryforward.

Technology Development Loan (TDL) Program helps Wisconsin businesses develop technological innovations that have the potential to provide significant economic benefit to the state. This program is designed to help businesses commercialize new technology.

Economic Diversification Loan (EDL) Program has a goal of diversifying a local community's economy such that it is less dependant upon revenue from gaming. The EDL program is designed to help businesses establish and expand operations.

Economic Impact Loan (EIL) Program is designed to help Wisconsin businesses that have been negatively impacted by gaming. Recognizing that qualified businesses may have difficulty accessing capital, the EIL program is designed to cover a portion of the cost associated with modernizing and/or improving the businesses operations.

Major Economic Development (MED) Program is designed to assist businesses that will invest private funds and create jobs as they expand in or relocate to Wisconsin.

Rural Economic Development (RED) Program is designed to provide working capital or fixed asset financing for businesses with fewer that 50 employees.

Technology Development Fund (TDF) Program helps Wisconsin businesses research and develop technological innovations that have the potential to provide significant economic benefit to the state.

Wisconsin Trade Project Program can help small export-ready firms participate in international trade shows. The business covers its own travel and lodging expenses. The Department of Commerce can then provide up to $5,000 in reimbursements to a business for costs associated with attending a trade show, such as booth rental, shipping displays or product brochure translation.

Agribusiness Guarantee is administered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). This program provides loan guarantees for projects developing products, markets, methods of processing, or marketing for a Wisconsin-grown commodity. The maximum guarantee of 80% on loans up to $750,000 can be used for equipment, land, buildings, working capital, inventory and marketing expenses. Contact WHEDA at 1-800-334-6873.

Brownfields Initiative provides grants to persons, businesses, local development organizations, and municipalities for environmental remediation activities for brownfield sites where the owner is unknown, cannot be located or cannot meet the cleanup costs.

Wisconsin CAPCO Program is intended to increase investment of venture capital funds into small business enterprises which have traditionally had difficulty in attracting institutional venture capital.

Dairy 2020 Early Planning Grant Program encourages and stimulates the startup, modernization, and expansion of Wisconsin dairy farms.

Early Planning Grant (EPG) Program helps individual entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Wisconsin obtain the professional services necessary to evaluate the feasibility of a proposed start up or expansion.

Entrepreneurial Training Grant (ETG) Program can provide applicants with a grant to help cover a portion of the cost of attending Small Business Development Center's (SBDC) new Entrepreneurial Training Course.

Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program awards loans to businesses or communities wishing to rehabilitate rail lines, advance economic development, connect an industry to the national railroad system, or to make improvements to enhance transportation efficiency, safety, and intermodal freight movement. Contact Ron Adams, Department of Transportation, 608/267-9284.

The Linked Deposit Loan (LiDL) is administered by Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). This program offers women- and minority-owned and operated businesses a two-year interest rate subsidy on the portion of a new bank loan of $10,000 to $99,000 that covers land, building and equipment. Contact WHEDA at 1-800-334-6873.

Milk Volume Production (MVP) Program is designed to assist dairy producers that are undertaking capital improvement projects that will result in a significant increase in Wisconsin's milk production. Only those projects that have a comprehensive business plan and can demonstrate that they will have a long term sustainable impact upon Wisconsin's milk production will be successful.

Minority Business Development Fund offers low-interest loans for start-up, expansion or acquisition projects. To qualify for the fund, a business must be 51-percent controlled, owned, and actively managed by minority-group members, and the project must retain or increase employment.

Petroleum Environmental Clean-up Fund reimburses property owners for eligible clean-up costs related to discharges for petroleum tank systems. Contact Oscar Herrera, 608/266-7605.

Recycling Demonstration Grant Program helps businesses and local governing units fund waste reduction, reuse, and recycling pilot projects. Contact Sheila Henneger, 608/266-9426, DNR.

State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) is one of the largest pension funds in the world. SWIB's staff makes special efforts to explore investments (minimum $3 million) within the state. The Wisconsin Department of Commerce can assist Wisconsin business firms seeking to finance expansions. It works with investors like SWIB, depending upon the financial requirements of the expansion project.

Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) Small Business Guarantee can be used for expenses for land, buildings, equipment and inventory associated with the expansion or acquisition of a small business (50 or less full-time employees). The guarantee is limited to 80% or $200,000. This program can finance a mixed-use project if the business occupies at least half of the building. This program can also be used to start a daycare business including cooperative ownership or nonprofit status. Contact WHEDA at 1-800-334-6873.

The Wisconsin Fund provides grants to help small commercial businesses rehabilitate or replace their privately-owned sewage systems. Contact Jean Joyce, 608/267-7113.

Wisconsin Transportation Economic Assistance Program funds transportation facility improvements (road, rail, harbor, airport) that are part of an economic development project. Contact Dennis W. Leong, Department of Transportation, 608/266-9910.

Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) offers micro loans to businesses owned by women, minorities, and low-income individuals. WWBIC also offers training and technical assistance. Call 414/263-5450 in Milwaukee, or 608/257-5450 in Madison.

Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation is a private, not-for-profit corporation created in 1981 to assist Wisconsin businesses gain access to capital, create jobs and promote community development. They serve start-up & emerging businesses, established & growing businesses, financial institutions and economic development organizations. Phone: (608) 819-0390; FAX: (608) 819-0393

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