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.

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  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
  • Energy, Sustainability, Technology

    Advanced Biofuel Payment Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This program’s goal is to increase the production of advanced biofuels.

  • Agriculture, Education & Schools, Energy, Health & Mental Health, Sustainability, Technology

    Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – Foundational and Applied Science Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture.

  • Agriculture, Education & Schools, Food & Beverage, Workforce

    Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grants: Education and Workforce Development Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - EWD focuses on developing the next generation of research, education, and extension professionals in the food and agricultural sciences.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Agriculture Innovation Center Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The Agriculture Innovation Center Program funds Agriculture Innovation Centers (Centers) that provide technical and business development assistance to Agricultural Producers.

  • Energy, Sustainability, Technology

    Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical, and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This program provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction, and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies.

  • Broadband & Internet

    Broadband Technical Assistance

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    BTA provides financial assistance through cooperative agreements to eligible entities to receive or deliver broadband technical assistance and training and supports the development and expansion of broadband cooperatives.

  • Business

    Business & Industry Loan Guarantees in Wisconsin

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This program provides loan guarantees to commercial lenders for loans to eligible rural businesses.

  • Agriculture, Sustainability, Technology

    CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Grants

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) are competitive grants that drive public and private sector innovation in resource conservation. On-Farm Trials supports more widespread adoption of innovative approaches, practices, and systems on working lands.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Emergency Haying and Grazing

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This program contracts with agricultural producers so that environmentally sensitive agricultural land is not farmed or ranched, but instead used for conservation benefits.

  • Agriculture, Broadband & Internet

    Direct Farm Operating Microloans

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Direct Farm Ownership Microloans are meant to make a down payment on a farm; build, repair, or improve buildings; fund soil and water conservation projects; be used as a down payment farm ownership loan; and be used in joint financing.

  • Agriculture, Broadband & Internet

    Direct Farm Ownership Microloans

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Direct Farm Ownership Microloans are meant to make a down payment on a farm; build, repair, or improve buildings; fund soil and water conservation projects; be used as a down payment farm ownership loan; and be used in joint financing.

  • Broadband & Internet, Education & Schools, Energy, Technology

    Electric Infrastructure Loan & Loan Guarantee Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The electric program makes insured loans and loan guarantees to finance the construction of electric distribution, finance generation, and transmission facilities in rural areas.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions.

  • Food & Beverage, Sustainability

    Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This program helps eligible communities prepare, or recover from, an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Emergency Conservation Program (ECP)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) helps farmers and ranchers repair damage to farmlands caused by natural disasters and put in place methods for water conservation during severe drought.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) helps the owners of non-industrial private forests restore forest health damaged by natural disasters.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Emergency Loan Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    When a tornado, flood, or drought strikes, or a quarantine is imposed by the Secretary of Agriculture, or when other natural disasters occur, FSA's Emergency loan program is there to help eligible farmers and ranchers rebuild and recover from sustained losses.

  • Agriculture, Other

    Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP-Recovery) Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The EWP Program offers technical and financial assistance to help local communities relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms and other natural disasters that impair a watershed.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provides technical and financial assistance to producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits.

  • Agriculture, Sustainability

    Equity in Conservation Outreach Cooperative Agreements

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This opportunity is meant to expand conservation assistance to historically underserved producers and underserved communities and to provide opportunities for students to pursue careers in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Farm Loan Assistance Tool

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Check your eligibility for FSA loans, discover the various FSA loan products, learn about documentation requirements, and follow easy-to-understand instructions when completing the loan application forms.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Farm Loan Discovery Tool

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Find a USDA Farm Loan that might be right for you by answering a few short questions. Learn about your eligibility and find application guides to help you prepare for your USDA Service Center visit with a loan officer.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Farm Operating Loans

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    FSA’s Direct Farm Operating Loans are a valuable resource to start, maintain and strengthen a farm or ranch.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Farm Ownership Loans

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Farm Ownership Loans can be used to purchase or expand a farm or ranch.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Loans to producers to build or upgrade farm storage and handling facilities.

  • Agriculture, Business, Food & Beverage

    Farmers Market Promotion Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The Farmers Market Promotion Program funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Federal Crop Insurance

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Promotes national welfare by improving economic stability of agriculture.

  • Agriculture, Food & Beverage

    Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program provides financial support to qualified lenders whose loan applicants want to start or expand middle of the food supply chain activities such as aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storage, transportation, wholesale, or distribution of food.

  • Business, Economic Development, Energy, Sustainability, Technology, Transportation, Veterans, Workforce

    Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The purpose of the HBIIP is to increase significantly the sales and use of higher blends of ethanol and biodiesel by expanding the infrastructure for renewable fuels derived from U.S. agricultural products.

  • Economic Development, Housing, Parks & Outdoor Recreation

    Housing Solutions in Rural Recreation Communities (Webinar)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This webinar, hosted by the EPA Office of Community Revitalization, USDA - Rural Development, and HUD, addresses housing in gateway communities.

  • Agriculture, Food & Beverage, Native Peoples

    Indigenous Animals Harvesting and Meat Processing Grant Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This program aims to expand or enhance animal protein processing capacity in Indian Country.

  • Business, Economic Development, Start-Up & Entrepreneur, Workforce

    Intermediary Relending Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This program provides 1 percent low-interest loans to local lenders or “intermediaries” that re-lend to businesses to improve economic conditions and create jobs in rural communities.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The Livestock Forage Disaster Program (LFP) provides payments to eligible livestock owners and contract growers who have covered livestock and who are also producers of grazed forage crop acreage that have suffered a loss of grazed forage due to a qualifying drought during the normal grazing period for the county.

  • Agriculture, Business, Other

    Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    LIP provides benefits to livestock producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather or by attacks by animals reintroduced into the wild.

  • Agriculture, Business

    Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Payments made to producers who, although eligible to obtain a CCC loan, agree to forgo the loan in return for a payment on the eligible commodity.

  • Agriculture, Business, Food & Beverage

    Local Food Promotion Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    The Local Food Promotion Program funds projects that develop, coordinate and expand local and regional food business enterprises that engage as intermediaries in indirect producer to consumer marketing to help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products.

  • Agriculture, Business, Food & Beverage

    Local Meat Capacity Grant

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    This program supports independently owned meat and poultry processing businesses with funds to provide more and better processing options for local livestock producers.

  • Housing

    Multifamily Housing Loan Guarantees

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Provides financing to qualified borrowers to increase the supply of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income individuals and families in eligible rural areas and towns.

  • Housing

    Multifamily Housing Programs Hub Page

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Multifamily Housing assists rural property owners through loans, loan guarantees, and grants that enable owners to develop and rehabilitate properties for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals and families as well as domestic farm laborers.