Dept. of Commerce: Governor Doyle announces $687,100 for Gateway Technical College and Walworth County Economic Developmental Alliance

Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON—Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Gateway Technical College and the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA) have received a $687,100 grant from the US Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to deliver an entrepreneurial training program spanning a 4-county region in southeastern Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin’s people and communities reacted to the 2008 floods with spirit, hard work and generosity,” Governor Doyle said. “I’m pleased to announce these additional federal funds that will spur entrepreneurship and business development in southeastern Wisconsin.”

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) provided technical assistance so that grantees could secure the funding for this project. The project includes partnerships with the Small Business Development Centers at UW-Parkside and UW-Whitewater and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation to provide onsite delivery of business planning services. The grant funds three years of training for new entrepreneurs who are establishing businesses or technology-based firms in Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, and Rock counties. Total project costs are estimated at $1,126,387. The four-county area is providing a match of $439,287.

In September 2008, Commerce received a $800,000 grant from the EDA to provide technical assistance to counties that were declared a disaster after the 2008 flood. Assistance will primarily be targeted to counties that are not within existing EDA-funded districts, including Sauk, Columbia, Dodge, Washington, Ozaukee, Dane, Jefferson, Waukesha, Milwaukee, Rock, Racine, and Kenosha. Commerce’s Flood Recovery Coordinators are working with affected communities, businesses and regions to support recovery strategies that help these communities and businesses restore their operations and prepare for future opportunities.