Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

MADISON—The State Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has awarded $25,000 to Wisconsin job centers to assist job seekers interested in starting their own businesses.

The grants, awarded to job centers in Milwaukee and Rock Counties and west central, north central and western Wisconsin, will be used to assist customers who are seeking a self-employment career path.

DWD Secretary Linda Stewart said that the grants will promote self-employment and financial independence through education, training and counseling opportunities, especially to economically disadvantaged job seekers.

"Wisconsin’s job centers are providing services that will help people start their own businesses and lead them to a path of financial independence," said DWD Secretary Linda Stewart.  "Small business activities have a strong impact on the development and continued growth of local economies, and by providing entrepreneurial services we are serving the needs of the local communities and the people."

Job center staff will work with counselors from the State Department of Commerce and the U.S. Small Business Administration to set-up the new services.  Staff will also help connect new entrepreneurs with a variety of other agencies that will assist with writing business and marketing plans.

The grants will support efforts by the job centers to create new partnerships with small businesses, banks, chambers of commerce and education and consulting providers.

In addition, the funding will allow job centers to create and provide localized resource and referral information and on-site classes.  Job center staff will be trained to assess the feasibility of small business proposals and will assist with financial projections.

Among the agencies awarded grants:

• Maximus-Milwaukee County; 414/607-0477

• Portage County Job Center; 715/345-5330

• Marathon County Job Center; 715/261-7703

• Western Wisconsin Area Job Centers; 608/789-5620

• West Central Wisconsin Area Job Centers; 715/232-1412

• Rock County Job Center; 608/471-3490

For more information on the Small Business/Micro Enterprise grants, contact Jodi Owens at 608/264-8165.

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