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

Program

The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) Program

Child Care, Energy, Forestry & Paper, Health & Mental Health, Native Peoples, Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Sustainability

The EJG2G Program works to support and/or create model state activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health results ...Read more

Program

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving Program (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program

Child Care, Energy, Forestry & Paper, Health & Mental Health, Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Sustainability

EJCPS assists organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues in ...Read more

Support Organization

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Health & Mental Health, Sustainability

The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment.

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

Program

County Forest Sustainable Grant

Forestry & Paper, Sustainability

County Forest Sustainable Grants are used for special, short term or unanticipated projects that promote sustainable forestry.

Program

Forest Fire Protection (FFP) Grant Program

Forestry & Paper, Other, Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Forest Fire Protection (FFP) 50% cost-share grants are available to Wisconsin fire departments and county/area fire associations.

Program

Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grants

Health & Mental Health, Sustainability, Transportation

The RAISE program is a discretionary grant program for investments in surface transportation infrastructure that will have a significant local ...Read more

Program

Rebuilding Economic Vibrancy After a Major Pandemic (REVAMP) Program

A central part of the Office of Rural Prosperity’s mission is assisting community leaders in fostering vibrant, prosperous and resilient ...Read more

Support Organization

Office of Rural Prosperity

Arts & Culture, Broadband & Internet, Business, Housing, Other

As part of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the Office of Rural Prosperity seeks to foster vibrant, prosperous and ...Read more

News

Addressing rural Wisconsin’s workforce challenges

Forestry & Paper, Workforce

The Workforce Innovation Grant (WIG) Program, with grant rounds announced in January and June 2022, aims to help communities throughout ...Read more

News

A collective approach to solving rural Wisconsin’s challenges

Business, Native Peoples, Other

As a member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe, David has always experienced nature as a ...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

News

Building relationships, bolstering rural communities

Other

Along the way to her job at the Office of Rural Prosperity, Beth picked up a wealth of experience working ...Read more

Program

USDA Rural Workforce Guide

Workforce

This guide was created for community leaders and other local entities to help them access resources to create jobs, train ...Read more

Program

Rural LISC Loan Products

Business, Child Care, Education & Schools, Health & Mental Health, Housing

Rural LISC has a variety of flexible lending products designed to help local groups bring development projects to fruition.

Program

Affordable Connectivity Program Enrollment Visualization

Broadband & Internet

The Affordable Connectivity Program Enrollment Visualization allows users to investigate the percentage of ACP enrollment participation by ZIP code, and ...Read more

Support Organization

Madison Regional Economic Partnership

Business, Health & Mental Health, Other

Madison Region Economic Partnership (MadREP) is the economic development agency for the eight-county Madison Region of south-central Wisconsin.

Support Organization

Rural LISC

Broadband & Internet, Business, Housing, Other, Workforce

With residents and partners, Rural LISC forges resilient and inclusive communities of opportunity across America – great places to live, ...Read more

Program

Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program

Forestry & Paper, Veterans

Popularly referred to as the 2501 Program, this program ensures underserved and veteran farmers, ranchers, and foresters get needed resources ...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