MADISON, Wis. — Governor Tony Evers is doing the right thing for small businesses, and during his first term, more than 4,200 small businesses in all 72 counties have benefited from Gov. Evers’ Main Street Bounceback program. Today, Gov. Evers announced an additional $25 million to help even more businesses across the state — bringing the governor’s total investment in the Main Street Bounceback program to $75 million. Today’s announcement will enable 2,500 more small businesses to fill empty storefronts throughout the state.
In south central Wisconsin, 577 small businesses so far have received more than $5.7 million in grants from Gov. Evers’ Main Street Bounceback grant program. Here’s a breakdown by county:
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In Columbia County, 31 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Dane County, 274 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Grant County, 58 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Green County, 34 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Iowa County, 27 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Juneau County, 12 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Lafayette County, 23 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Marquette County, 5 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Richland County, 15 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Rock County, 71 small businesses have opened or expanded.
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In Sauk County, 27 small businesses have opened or expanded.
Gov. Evers is establishing Wisconsin as the small business powerhouse of the Midwest, and because of his common sense leadership, as a share of federal aid our state has received, Wisconsin ranks first in the country in aid allocated to businesses and second in the country for aid directed to economic development. The state has also achieved the lowest unemployment rate in state history and a labor force participation rate that is four points higher than the national average.
Kevin Abercrombie, a small brewery owner in Waunakee, likened Gov. Evers’ Bounceback efforts to a “set of jumper cables, it kind of got the car going again.”
“The impact we’ve had through our Main Street Bounceback Grant Program over the last year has been tremendous, truly helping small businesses and main streets in every corner of our state,” said Gov. Evers. “We’ve heard from folks from across the state about how these funds have helped them take their businesses to the next level. We’ve also seen firsthand how these investments have helped support local economies in downtowns and communities that are now filled with unique businesses that otherwise might not be there today. I’m proud of our work making strategic investments in small businesses and I’m excited that today’s announcement means we’ll be able to continue our work supporting main streets and communities across Wisconsin.”
