News
WCEDC Receives $250,000 “Small Business Development Grant”
July 29, 2025
Governor Tony Evers, in collaboration with the Wisconsin Economic Corporation (WEDC) announced today that ten community organizations supporting small businesses across Wisconsin have received more than $1.5 million in Small Business Development Grants (SBDG) from WEDC.
“Across Wisconsin, I’ve had the chance to meet local leaders who are stepping up to create
communities where people are excited to live, work, and grow,” said Missy Hughes, secretary
and CEO of WEDC, the state’s lead economic development agency. “These investments will give communities another tool to keep that momentum building.”
Secretary Hughes visited Waupaca today to highlight how those communities will be using their grants to assist local businesses.
"This grant will allow the Waupaca County Economic Development Corporation (WCDEDC) to
help business owners that own and operate a business in older downtown buildings
in Waupaca County,’ said WCEDC Executive Director Jeff Mikorski. “Through the Business
Loan/Grant Program, we hope to help local small businesses and support the preservation of
the iconic buildings seen throughout our downtowns. Grant funds can be used to improve the
safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and structural integrity of our older commercial
buildings."
Waupaca County Economic Development Corporation - $250,000
WCEDC will fund a Building Improvement Grant program to assist small business owners who
own a building or are purchasing a building in any of the historic downtowns or older
commercial corridors in Waupaca County.
Small businesses currently located in, or purchasing, an older building in Waupaca County
downtown or other older commercial district that are approved for financial assistance through
the WCEDC's existing Revolving Loan Fund will be qualified to receive a Building Improvement
Grant of up to $50,000.
Eligible improvements include making the buildings safer, energy efficient, accessible, and
structurally sound. Additional support includes business and financial assistance throughout
the application process and the length of the loan.
WCEDC received $3.2 Million to implement workforce transportation
June 29, 2022
New London – Governor Tony Evers presented Jeff Mikorski, Executive Director of the Waupaca County Economic Development Corporation (WCEDC) with a $3.2 million Workforce Innovation Grant to implement a workforce transportation pilot program. WCEDC, with the support of the County and Waupaca municipalities, submitted the round 2 Workforce Innovation Grant application. The application was supported with the transportation expertise from community organizations such as Lutheran Social Services (Make the Ride Happen), the New London, Waupaca, and Clintonville Chambers of commerce, Feonix Mobility Rising, the New London Thedacare CHAT team, East Central Regional Planning Commission, and the UWM Extension office. In addition, corporate partners Tyson Foods, Waupaca Foundry, Walker Forge, Kolbe & Kolbe Windows helped support the application.
With the grant awarded, the WCEDC and community partners will begin establishing a Mobility-As-A-Service model, which works with existing transportation resources, in addition to establishing a new resource (a micro-transit system) in the County to provide nearly 66, 000 rides over the first three years. The program will provide 24/7 dispatching through phone, mobile, and web applications, to cover all shifts of employment. It will also cover the need for employees to drop-off and pick-up children at daycare going to and coming from work.
“So much good will come from this grant. It will not only benefit current workers but future generations too.” Stated Carrie Kreps Wegenast, Chaplain Services/ Human Resources for Tyson Foods.
Demographics show that there are many workers that do not have affordable or dependable transportation, lack a car, or driver’s license. Transportation has been seen to be a barrier to getting and retaining employees for our businesses and industries. One local company identified that one-third of all new employee terminations and 19% of overall terminations were due to a lack of transportation.
“This project will provide a new option for affordable workforce transportation in Waupaca County where currently there is no mass transit and little ride share or taxi service options for employees.” Said Mikorski.