The Rural Business Enhancement Center was established in 2004 as an initiative of the Southwest Wisconsin Regional Economic Development Coalition by UW-Platteville and UW-Extension business outreach professionals established the Rural Business Enhancement Center in 2004 as an initiative of The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service is providing funding for the Center (Award # 2004-45076-01871).
The Center assists businesses and entrepreneurs with in-depth, comprehensive business and technical analysis, concept development, project management and general business management to further the comparative advantages of high-growth industries in Southwestern Wisconsin and the Tri-State area.
The Center will provide assistance through the services of its business development professionals or by awarding grants to firms and individuals for the purpose of contracting third-party service providers, such as consultants and attorneys.
Value-added agricultural products, specifically food, fiber and energy, will be an emphasis; however requests for assistance from other industries are encouraged.
The FY2005 funding of the Center provides for $137,973 to be granted to firms or individuals to contract third-party service providers for business and technical assistance. Proposals for grants of $30,000-$60,000 will be preferred, although requests for greater or lesser amounts will be considered. Grant recipients will be required to provide a cash match of 25%-75% of the total project costs, depending on the potential economic impact of the project on Southwestern Wisconsin. Projects funded under the current USDA grant shall be completed by May 1, 2006.
Proposals will present briefly the purpose, scope, objectives, methodology, milestones, timelines and a detailed budget and budget narrative for the project. Consultants should submit a résumé or vita and documentation of their standard pay rates.
The grant recipient and UW-Platteville will enter into an agreement stating the obligations and rights of each party, which will be governed by regulations and policy for both federal and state grants. Funding will be disbursed to grant recipients upon satisfactory completion of the work plan unless other arrangements are negotiated.
The Applicant will be asked to submit the project proposal and a signed contract for approval. Applications will be reviewed first by the Center's Advisory Board and then by the USDA. The Center's Advisory Board will conduct a competitive review process in the third week of August 2005 to make awards.
The objective of the Business Assistance Grants Program is to fund innovation, the creation and protection of intellectual property and business planning. Eligible projects may include, but will not be limited to, product or process development, patent prosecution, marketing research, business plan preparation, engineering feasibility studies, etc. Requests for funding for labor training, infrastructure and working capital are better directed to other government assistance programs and commercial banks.
Priority will be given to projects in Southwestern Wisconsin (Crawford, Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties). Projects beyond the region will be eligible if they are deemed to have a significant potential economic impact on Southwestern Wisconsin.
Rural Business Enhancement Center Contacts for questions and to apply:
Dr. Robert Schatz Outreach Program Manager Rural Business Enhancement Center University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, WI 53818-3099 (608) 342-1985 schatzr@uwplatt.edu Beth Andes-Young Administrative Assistant Rural Business Enhancement Center 1 University Plaza, Gardner Hall University of Wisconsin-Platteville Platteville, WI 53818-3099 (608) 342-1202 andesyob@uwplatt.edu