We’re nurturing Wisconsin’s success from every angle.
WEDC lives for Wisconsin’s success. Each of our programs is tailored to nurture a different type of economic success: businesses that are exporting, expanding, or just starting out; communities that are revitalizing or bringing new, shared spaces to life; schools that are preparing Wisconsin’s future workforce; and many more. You’ll find our program summaries here, along with a glossary for reference.
WEDC Program Summaries
Branch Campus Redevelopment Program
Total awards: 1
Award amount: $2,000,000
Leverage ratio: 1:1
Recommended changes
No substantive changes
Brownfields Grant Program
FY25 program activity
Total awards: 12
Award amount: $2,790,700
Leverage ratio: 147:1
Recommended changes
Add clarification that units of Tribal government are eligible for this grant.
Brownfield Site Assessment Grant Program
Total awards: 7
Award amount: $914,510
Leverage ratio: 1:1
Recommended changes
Add clarification that units of Tribal government are eligible for this grant.
Business Development Tax Credit Program
Total awards: 25
Award amount: $12,955,000
Jobs to be created: 1,638
Jobs to be retained: 288
Leverage ratio: 49:1
Notes: Complete CY25 results not available at publication; FY25 results shown.
Recommended changes
No substantive changes
Capacity Building Grant Program
Total awards: 25
Award amount: $871,739
Recommended changes
Remove the pilot status for Thrive Rural.
Capital Catalyst Program
Total awards: 6
Award amount: $2,745,000
Businesses to be assisted: 35
Leverage ratio: 1:1
Recommended changes
Update language in the program purpose to reflect focus on high-growth potential companies.
Clarify language around SSBCI requirements.
Community Development Investment Grant Program
Total awards: 52
Award amount: $6,779,551
Leverage ratio: 16:1
Recommended changes
Update CDI-VS to non-competitive.
Reduce CDI-VS match requirement for projects in economically distressed communities or communities with populations under 5,000.
Restrict number of applications per community.
Data Center Sales and Use Tax Exemption
Total awards: 3
Recommended changes
Clarify that the certification date is set by WEDC.
Disaster Recovery Microloan Program
No awards were executed.
Recommended changes
No substantive changes.
Diverse Business Development Program
FY25 program activity
Total awards: 10
Award amount: $475,000
Businesses to be assisted: 145
Recommended changes
No substantive changes.
Enterprise Zone Tax Credit
Total awards: 1
Award amount: $16,000,000
Jobs to be created: 708
Jobs to be retained: 0
Leverage ratio: 7:1
Notes: Complete CY25 results not available at publication; FY25 results shown.
Recommended changes
No substantive changes
Entrepreneurial Micro-grant Program
Total awards: 1
Award amount: $250,000
Recommended changes
Add language clarifying that program focus is on high-growth potential companies.
Entrepreneurship Partner Grant Program
Total awards: 22
Award amount: $2,913,290
Businesses to be assisted: 327
Recommended changes
Rename program and move to the Business and Community Development team to better align with a focus to fund only technical assistance programs aimed at supporting traditional small businesses.
ExporTech™ Program
The program administered through WCMP assisted 7 businesses and was awarded $144,000.
Recommended changes
No substantive changes
Fabrication Laboratories Grant Program
Total awards: 20
Award amount: $497,199
Recommended changes
No substantive changes.
Global Trade Mission Program
Number of trade ventures: 7
Businesses assisted: 33
Recommended changes
No substantive changes.
Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program
Total awards: 27
Award amount: $16,636,575
Leverage ratio: 8:1
Notes: Complete CY25 results not available at publication; FY25 results shown.
Recommended changes
Clarify that the minimum amount of Qualified rehabilitation expenditures must be at least the building’s adjusted basis and at least $50,000.
Idle Sites Redevelopment Program
Total awards: 10
Award amount: $2,250,000
Leverage ratio: 68:1
Recommended changes
No substantive changes.
Industrial Revenue Bonding Program
Total awards: 3
Award amount: $16,455,000
Notes: Complete CY25 results not available at publication; FY25 results shown.
Recommended changes
No substantive changes
International Market Access Grant Program
Total awards: 55
Award amount: $1,159,573
Recommended changes
No substantive changes.
Main Street and Connect Communities Programs
FY25 program activity
Main Street communities: 33
New Main Street communities: 1
Connect Communities: 102
New Connect Communities: 13
Businesses assisted: 166
Recommended changes
No substantive changes
Opportunity Attraction Fund Program
Total awards: 3
Award amount: 1,932,102
Leverage ratio: 1:1
Recommended changes
Increase bid fee limit to $2 million and remove in-kind match.
Qualified New Business Venture Certification/Early Stage Business Investment Program
Total awards: 31
Award amount: $89,788,150
Qualified Venture Fund Certifications: 3
Notes: Complete CY25 results not available at publication; FY25 results shown.
Recommended changes
No substantive changes
Small Business Development Grant Program
Total awards: 29
Award amount: $4,690,000
Communities assisted: 29
Recommended changes
Allow membership organizations to apply.
Prioritize applicants that have not previously received funding.
SBIR/STTR Matching Grant Program
FY25 program activity
The program administered through CTC assisted 9 businesses and was awarded $1,500,000.
Recommended changes
No substantive changes
Strategic Investment Fund Program
Total awards: 3
Award amount: $1,747,000
Leverage ratio: 2:1
Recommended changes
No substantive changes
Technology Development Loan Program
Total awards: 8
Award amount: $2,727,500
Leverage ratio: 6:1
Recommended changes
Update language in the program purpose to reflect focus on high growth potential companies.
Clarify language around SSBCI requirements.
