A little over a week into the application period for the Main Street Bounceback Grants program, regional economic development groups are seeing high levels of interest from local businesses.

“We’ve gotten over 100 inquiries and this week we’ve already received seven or eight completed applications,” said Dennis Lawrence, executive director of the North Central Regional Planning Commission. “My guess is, we’re going to be in the neighborhood of 100 applications, if all those who’ve reached out follow through. I think it will have a pretty significant impact in our region.”

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation began accepting applications for the program on Aug. 9 through nine regional partners. The program will provide $10,000 grants to eligible businesses or nonprofits to help them expand into a currently vacant commercial space. In total, $50 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds have been allocated to the program.

(Adapted from “High levels of interest seen for WEDC grant program ,” August 18, 2021, WisBusiness)