Iron County Economic Development

Funding Resources

There are a wide range of resources available to businesses in Wisconsin, whether initiating a new idea or expanding a business.

• Northwest Regional Planning Commission offers various regional revolving loan funds to assist businesses in the counties of Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn. http://nwrpc.com/
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) provides a wide range of financial assistance programs to help businesses. The mission of the Division of Economic and Community Development is to help Wisconsin businesses prosper in a marketplace that is subject to constant change. To accomplish this task, the Division utilizes a combination of technical and financial assistance programs that have been designed to assist businesses at all points of the continuum including: business planning, site selection, initial capitalization, permitting, employee training, research and development, and business expansion. The WEDC also offers a variety of state income tax credits for businesses. These include credits for job creation, Brownfield remediation, and technology businesses. There are also several tax exemptions on machinery equipment, research and development, energy usage. More information is on their web site at www.inwisconsin.com.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. They work primarily through loan guarantees extended to the private bank making the loan. More information can be found at www.sba.gov.
• WHEDA offers a diverse range of business financing programs designed to stimulate Wisconsin's economy, promote economic development in urban and rural areas, and maximize community impact through the creation and retention of living wage jobs. Available primarily to small businesses and farms, these programs are intended to provide essential financing through public and private partnerships with Wisconsin lenders and investors. Products include:• Business loan guarantees
  • Participation lending
  • Wisconsin Venture Debt Fund
  • Wisconsin Equity Investment Fund
  • New Market Tax Credits
• For more information please visit: https://www.wheda.com/Business-Lending/