Resource Directory

Rural Economic Development

RESOURCES AND GRANTS FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES

Whether you’re an individual, a business or a community organization, you can use the directory below to search a vast library of resources, tools and services. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), its economic development partners and other organizations around the state offer a range of resources on all aspects of economic well-being, from childcare and education to businesses and housing. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Reach out to us directly, we want to help.

Photo of the owner of J&J Sports in Lake Tomahawk.

Search the Directory

  • Resource Type

  • Resource Category

  • Sort Order

  • Reset

Success Story

Forming a co-op for seeds

Farmers form cooperatives to buy and market products such as milk and grains, so why not band together to form ...Read more

Success Story

Adding infrastructure spurs development

If there is one thing the Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe has desperately needed, it is ...Read more

Success Story

The Vernon County Energy District aims for clean, locally generated power

The Vernon County Energy District is spreading the word about energy: how to conserve, how to go green, and most ...Read more

Success Story

Pastoral escapes

Annie Coleman had dreamed for years about opening a retreat center in rural Wisconsin—a place in the heart of nature ...Read more

Success Story

Collaboration helps plug housing shortage in western Wisconsin

Energy, Housing, Sustainability, Workforce

Meeting the goal to build a 50-unit apartment building in downtown River Falls with affordable rents and load it with ...Read more

Success Story

Spring Green, Mazomanie vet clinics switch to cooperative ownership

Business, Start-Up & Entrepreneur

Forming a cooperative ensures local residents will have a veterinarian nearby to care for their dogs, cats, and other animals.

Success Story

Growing Lancaster aims to attract Latino families

Other, Workforce

To bring Latino families to Lancaster, the community knew it would need to make this cultural group feel welcome and ...Read more

Success Story

Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative

Health & Mental Health

It’s hard enough for many of Wisconsin’s rural communities to deal with the challenges resulting from declining population, struggling family ...Read more

Success Story

Tackling a child care void

Child Care, Native Peoples

Child care facilities have always been hard to come by in Sawyer County. A community survey found a severe shortage ...Read more

Success Story

Marshaling resources to fight COVID-19

Health & Mental Health, Native Peoples, Workforce

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020 and stay-at-home orders were issued, the tribe had only a volunteer emergency medical ...Read more

Success Story

GROWing our own teachers

Education & Schools, Workforce

School districts throughout Wisconsin are struggling to recruit high-quality educators–with college degrees, state certification and expertise in their given field—and ...Read more

Success Story

Kickapoo Valley Forest School: Forging Connections to the Environment

Education & Schools, Forestry & Paper

Residents of the verdant Kickapoo Valley—part of the Driftless Region, untouched by glaciers—wanted their children to understand and appreciate the ...Read more

Success Story

Vernon Food Enterprise Center: Focusing on Food and Wellness

Health & Mental Health, Start-Up & Entrepreneur

The Vernon County region in western Wisconsin is home to many small and midsize farms and food processors that had ...Read more

Success Story

Fifth Season Cooperative: Connecting Food Producers with Buyers

Business

Producing high-quality food is not always enough; sometimes growers and processers need help connecting with the right markets for their ...Read more

Success Story

Farm Table Foundation: Bringing Food From Farm to Table

Business, Education & Schools, Health & Mental Health

Creating an organization that seeks to educate people about soil health and about the benefits of locally grown food can ...Read more

Success Story

Woodland Regional Technical Academy: Boosting Rural Education

Education & Schools, Workforce

Educational and career opportunities are often limited for students in rural areas. To level the educational playing field for rural ...Read more

Success Story

Wisconsin Early Education Shared Services Network: Expanding Access to Child Care

Child Care

Throughout the state, day care programs have closed, plagued by problems with finding and keeping employees, handling administrative requirements and ...Read more

Success Story

Community First Washburn County: Mobilizing to Keep Residents Healthy

Business, Health & Mental Health

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, a statewide lockdown in March and April forced non-essential businesses to close, putting employees out ...Read more

Success Story

UW Population Health Institute: Improving Rural Health

Health & Mental Health

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a higher toll on residents of rural Wisconsin, following years of reduced health services for ...Read more

Success Story

Soil Sisters: Supporting and Celebrating Women Farmers

Arts & Culture, Start-Up & Entrepreneur

More than a decade ago, more women began to realize that they were choosing to become farmers in hopes of ...Read more