AT&T Wisconsin has announced a $5,000 Innovation & Investment Award grant to the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) to support its Rural Microenterprise Gateway project.
The grant was announced at WWBIC’s Social Networking for Your Business 101 Class in Twin Lakes with WWBIC leaders and state Rep. Samantha Kerkman (R-Powers Lakes).
The $5,000 AT&T contribution will enable WWBIC to expand its Rural Microenterprise Gateway project to more rural Wisconsin small business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. The program provides much-needed business education and face-to-face counseling opportunities to rural small business owners and entrepreneurs through technology and Internet access. The project focuses on businesses that are disadvantaged: minority-owned, woman-owned, owned by disabled individuals and veterans, or owned by low-income individuals.
“WWBIC is grateful for AT&T’s support of our efforts to reach out to more small business owners and women entrepreneurs located in Wisconsin’s rural areas,” said WWBIC President Wendy Baumann. “This contribution will help us provide much-needed education and support to these entrepreneurs as they continue on their business journeys.” About 85% of all businesses in Wisconsin are micro businesses, employing about 18% of all employees statewide. Rural entrepreneurs often encounter roadblocks to success. They may lack access to capital, as well as the business development education that WWBIC provides, including information about management, finances and information technology.
“We are fortunate to have a great organization like WWBIC working to help our rural small business owners and entrepreneurs be successful,” said Kerkman. “The individualized business assistance WWBIC provides is key to helping entrepreneurs successfully manage their capital and grow a business.”
WWBIC is a statewide economic development organization focused on business creation, expansion and sustainability, and job creation and retention in both urban and rural areas of Wisconsin. In addition to direct lending and access to other business capital, WWBIC offers both business education and financial awareness education programs that create economic opportunity.
“AT&T shares WWBIC’s commitment to helping Wisconsin’s entrepreneurs through education and access to resources,” said Tricia Conway, Director of External Affairs for AT&T Wisconsin. “WWBIC’s ability to encourage economic development and provide the necessary tools for entrepreneurial success are two things we are proud to support.”
The AT&T Wisconsin Innovation & Investment Award program provides grant funding to organizations and programs that improve the community by: advancing education; enhancing the environment; promoting economic development and new technologies; or delivering other essential community services. This is the fourth grant this year in a new program aimed at supporting local organizations that enhance and give back to their communities.