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 Energy Savings Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Energy

    The Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) provides loans to rural utilities and other companies who provide energy efficiency loans to qualified consumers to implement durable cost-effective energy efficiency measures.

  • Rural Housing Preservation Grant

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Housing

    Provides grants to sponsoring organizations for the repair or rehabilitation of housing owned or occupied by low- and very-low-income rural citizens.

  • Rural Housing Site Loans

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Housing

    Rural Housing site loans provide two types of loans to purchase and develop housing sites for low- and moderate-income families.

  • Rural Innovation Initiative

    Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)

    Broadband & Internet, Business, Start-Up & Entrepreneur, Workforce

    We provide intensive technical assistance and support to rural communities as they build digital economy ecosystem strategies and work to educate and train local residents in digital skills.

  • Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grants

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Business, Workforce

    The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program offers grant assistance to create and augment high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, support industry clusters and maximize the use of local productive assets in eligible low-income rural areas.

  • Rural LISC Loan Products

    Rural LISC

    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.

  • Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Start-Up & Entrepreneur, Workforce

    This program provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to 1) help microenterprise startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund and 2) provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

  • Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES)

    U.S Department of Transportation

    Transportation

    Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) is an initiative to address disparities in rural transportation infrastructure by developing user-friendly tools and information, aggregating DOT resources, and providing technical assistance. The ROUTES Initiative aims to ensure rural transportation infrastructure’s unique challenges are considered in order to meet priority transportation goals of safety, mobility, and economic competitiveness.

  • Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    Arts & Culture, Broadband & Internet, Housing, Parks & Outdoor Recreation, Transportation

    The Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge provides cooperative agreement funds to help provide planning support, technical assistance, and training to foster placemaking activities in rural communities.

  • RuralLead

    Rural Development Initiatives

    RuraLead is a learning initiative. We want to understand impactful leadership qualities and leadership development practices.

  • Safe Drinking Water Loan Program

    Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

    Health & Mental Health, Sustainability

    The purpose of the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program is to administer affordable financial assistance to communities within Wisconsin for drinking water infrastructure projects that protect public health for current and future generations.

  • Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program

    U.S Department of Transportation

    Transportation

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) established the new Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) discretionary program with $5 billion in appropriated funds over the next 5 years. In fiscal year 2022 (FY22), up to $1 billion is available. The SS4A program funds regional, local, and Tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries.