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.

Search the Directory

  • Topic of interest

  • Resource type

  • Rural Affordable Workforce Housing Initiative

    Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority

    Housing, Workforce

    Establishes an adaptive framework to identify needs, evaluate choices and implement solutions in an effort to address the shortage of affordable workforce housing in rural Wisconsin.

  • Rural Arts Development

    The Northern Lakes Center for the Arts, Inc.

    Arts & Culture

    The program will develop local rural arts activities.

  • Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG)

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Business, Education & Schools, Transportation, Workforce

    This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses.

  • Rural Business-Cooperative Service

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Business

    USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service offers programs to help businesses grow as well as job training for people living in rural areas.

  • Rural Community Development Initiative Grants

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Housing, Other

    RCDI grants are awarded to help non-profit housing and community development organizations, low-income rural communities and federally recognized tribes support housing, community facilities and community and economic development projects in rural areas.

  • Rural Cooperative Development Grant Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Business

    The Rural Cooperative Development Grant program improves the economic condition of rural areas by helping individuals and businesses start, expand or improve rural cooperatives and other mutually-owned businesses through Cooperative Development Centers

  • Rural Data Gateway

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Other

    The Rural Data Gateway strengthens USDA Rural Development partnerships with rural people, entrepreneurs, government officials and Congress by making RD’s data more available and easier to access.

  • Rural Development: Key Priorities

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Arts & Culture, Business, Parks & Outdoor Recreation

    Priority Points, also referred to as discretionary points, are additional points added to an established scoring criterion that USDA Rural Development uses to help determine which projects qualify for funding. Awarding extra points (i.e. priority points) raises a project’s score, which in turn improves the chances of a project being scored high enough to warrant a funding award. The flexibility related to these kinds of points varies, depending on regulations language.

  • Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Business, Start-Up & Entrepreneur, Workforce

    The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations.

  • Rural Economic Development Loan Program

    Dairyland Power Cooperative

    Business, Child Care, Energy, Health & Mental Health

    Low interest rate gap-financing may be available to support qualifying business or community development projects.

  • Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): Energy Audit & Renewable Energy Development Assistance Grants

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Energy, Sustainability

    This program assists rural small businesses and agricultural producers by conducting and promoting energy audits and providing Renewable Energy Development Assistance (REDA).

  • Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvement Guaranteed Loans & Grants

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Energy, Sustainability

    The program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing.