Northeast Wisconsin Non-Profits Receive Grants to Boost Diverse Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Casa Alba in Green Bay, 2018. PC: Fox 11 Online

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Nearly two dozen Northeast Wisconsin non-profits received grants designed to support ethnic and diverse businesses.

New North‘s microgrant fund dispersed $110,000 worth of grants to 20 businesses in their startup or growth phase.

Recipients of microgrant funds (listed alphabetically) and their intended purpose are:

• 365 Media Foundation, NEW Leadership Summit
• Asian Corporate + Entrepreneur Leaders of Northeast Wisconsin, Green Bay/Appleton, ACEL-NEW networking events at diverse-owned businesses
• Bay Area Workforce Development Board, Green Bay, Outreach to underserved business owners, entrepreneurs in 11 counties
• Casa Alba Melanie, Green Bay, Pop-Up shops highlighted at Estamos Aqui festival in Green Bay
• Color Bold Business Association, Green Bay, Pop-Up shops to highlight diverse businesses
• Dragon Boat Festival, Oshkosh, Pop-Up shops highlighted at festival in Oshkosh
• Fox Cities Chamber Foundation, Appleton, Venues for monthly events to serve 1,000 ethnic and diverse businesses
• Fox Valley Workforce Development Board, Neenah, Food truck rally of minority-owned restaurants in conjunction with job fair
• Friends of Appleton Public Library, Appleton, Co-working experiences for BIPOC small-business owners, entrepreneurs
• Lovin’ The Skin I’m In, De Pere, Celebration of Black Women Brunch, utilizing diverse vendors
• Multicultural Coalition, Appleton, Community-wide learning sessions to raise up small, minority businesses
• NEW Hmong Professionals, Appleton, Technical assistance and strategies to help Hmong-owned businesses
• NWTC Educational Foundation, Green Bay, Trade-show event to highlight diverse businesses and entrepreneurs
• People of Progression, Appleton, Entrepreneurial support through technical assistance and connections
• Pointters Community Initiatives, Menasha, Women in Business seminars targeted to minority women
• St. Norbert College Mulva Library, De Pere, Creation of open-air market celebrating Black-owned businesses
• Sheboygan County EDC, Sheboygan, Launch of BIPOC business networking and product development events where entrepreneurs/participants are paired based on industry, business stage and needs, including partnerships with different minority chambers
• Someday Studios, Kaukauna, Highlighting of diverse business vendors during community mural reveal
• United Way Fox Cities, Menasha, Startup support of 10 businesses located inside Long Cheng Marketplace
• We All Rise: African American Resource Center, Green Bay, Hosting of Black Business Technology Center

Applications were accepted this past March and April, and microgrant funds are required to be used for initiatives or events taking place prior to Dec. 31, 2023.