|
Technical Assistance
Assistance for Businesses Department of Commerce: Area Development Managers: – Area Development Managers (ADMs) are the key first point of contact for businesses, local development organizations, and communities. Each ADM serves a distinct geographical area and use their knowledge of federal, state, and regional technical and financing resources to provide a variety of information to start-up, expanding, or relocating firms. They also mobilize resources to help struggling businesses. Call Dennis Russell at (920) 498-6302. Wisconsin Build Your Business – This site is designed to make it easy for you to obtain the information you need to seriously plan and prepare for the start or expansion of your business. Business Wizard - This interactive website makes it easy for an individual to obtain the information needed to seriously plan and prepare for starting or expanding a business. Through a simple question and answer format, this online program identifies permit, license, tax, and employment requirements specific to your business. Department of Commerce Publications: The Wisconsin Department of Commerce is the state's primary agency for delivery of integrated services to businesses. The following list of publications is that are most useful for starting a business in Wisconsin:
The Venture Center – Whether you are an experienced entrepreneur or someone with an idea for a business, the Venture Center can assist you with launching your business or infusing your existing enterprise with innovation and creativity. The Venture Center provides entrepreneurial education and training opportunities; the commercialization, access to market and prototype services; and ways the Center can link entrepreneurs to networking opportunities and accessing capital. Call Amy Pietsch at (920) 735-2594. Small Business Development Center-Oshkosh - The SBDC provides low-cost workshops, seminars and free counseling to aid small businesses. The low-cost seminars are specifically designed for owners and managers of businesses, and are taught by instructors who have experience and knowledge about the problems of owning and operating a business. Call Dick Krueger (920) 424-1453/800-232-8939 for more information. Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network - WEN provides integrated statewide support to entrepreneurs in all industries and developmental stages. Areas of assistance include: help with starting a business, finance and accounting, marketing, product development, business plans, intellectual property, and competitive research. SCORE - The SCORE Association is a free business counseling service. A partner of the Small Business Administration, the Fox Cities SCORE Chapter is located at the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. To request a Fox Cities SCORE Counselor contact (920) 734-7101. Small Business Administration - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nations. Call (608) 297-3941 for more information. Free Legal Counseling for Small Businesses - The State Bar of Wisconsin will provide small and emerging businesses throughout Wisconsin up to two hours of counseling from a business lawyer at no cost. This service is provided by members of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. For more information contact the State Bar of Wisconsin at (800) 728-7788. Networking Wisconsin Innovation Network - (WIN) WIN Events focus on the needs and challenges faced by new and growing technology-based businesses in Wisconsin, and have effectively assisted companies in the areas of capital, networking, information, and business consultation referrals. Inventors' Network of Wisconsin - Formed in 1999 the organization's purpose is to provide a forum for sharing knowledge through networking, acting as a support group to help inventors find resources, and to help members avoid pitfalls, mistakes and invention scams. Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership - The Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) is a technical and business resource created expressly to help small and midsize manufacturers improve productivity and compete more effectively in the global marketplace. Workforce Development FVTC – Fox Valley Technical College is recognized nationally for its innovative and flexible delivery of workforce solutions and technical assistance. Fox Valley Technical College's Business and Industry Services Team has developed proven methods to help hire, train and retrain a high performance workforce. Customized Labor Training (CLT) - The Customized Labor Training Program is designed to assist companies that are investing in new technologies or manufacturing processes by providing a grant of up to 50% of the cost of training employees on the new technologies. Eligible companies include any business making a firm commitment to locate a new facility in Wisconsin or expand an existing facility within the State which is upgrading a product, process or service that requires training in new technology and industrial skills is eligible. For further information call 1-800-HELP-BUS (1-800-435-7287). Business Employees' Skills Training (BEST) Program – Under the BEST program, Commerce can provide applicants with a tuition reimbursement grant to help cover a portion of the costs associated with training employees. For further information call 1-800-HELP-BUS (1-800-435-7287). |