Local Resources
Village of Saukville – Economic Development
This website has information about Saukville’s Industrial Park and the Dekora Woods Business Park. It also has information about Village incentives and assistance, such as the Revolving Loan Fund, the Village offers for small businesses in the area. The Village’s Community Development Authority also offers land in the business park at rates significantly below market value ($15,000/acre). The website also includes links to the Village’s Downtown Revitalization Plan, Broker Incentive Grant Program, and plan submittal and review requirements. Contact the Village of Saukville for additional information about its community development programs. The Village phone number is 262.284.9423.
Ozaukee Economic Development (OED)
The Ozaukee Economic Development website has links for various State business incentive and assistance programs, as well as information about County assistance, such as the County Revolving Loan Fund. OED Executive Director Kathleen Cady Schilling is a good contact to make if you are looking for a business consultation, strategies for expanding your business or starting a new business, vacant office or industrial space within the County, or workforce development programs. Ms. Schilling can be contacted by email kschilling@co.ozaukee.wi.us or phone 262.238.7730. The OED office is located in the Ozaukee County Administration Center, 121 W. Main Street in Port Washington.
Village of Saukville – Business Development Loan Program
A loan fund designed to provide low cost loans for start-up costs for new businesses or firms and to assist in the costs of expansion for existing businesses located in the Village of Saukville or assist in investments for new businesses locating in the Village. ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES Redevelopment of blighted property and vacant facilities Costs associated with environmental/safety or building code compliance or development Land or building purchase Expansion of existing buildings New Business construction costs Equipment Purchase Leasehold (non-residential) improvements
Milwaukee 7
The Milwaukee 7 website has demographic information for each County in the seven county region, including Ozaukee County. The website also has information about the Milwaukee 7 resource center, which is located in the We Energies headquarters in downtown Milwaukee at 231 W. Michigan Street. The center exists to support the mission of the Milwaukee 7 economic development collaboration to strengthen the economy of southeastern Wisconsin by attracting, retaining and growing companies and diverse talent. The Milwaukee 7 Resource Center provides interested parties with armchair access to information about prospective site locations, demographics, and the region’s cultural and leisure activities.
SCORE
SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a network of 13,000+ volunteers who offer small business entrepreneurs confidential business counseling services at no charge. SCORE also provides local workshops and events throughout the country to connect small business owners with the people and information they need to start, grow, and maintain their businesses, as well as online workshops available 24/7. SCORE provides resources, templates and tools to assist entrepreneurs in developing tools and plans they need to navigate their way to small business success. SCORE representatives will provide free mentoring services upon request at a mutually agreed upon location in Ozaukee County. Call 414.297.3942 to set up an appointment.
Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is part of the UW-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education. The SBDC offers numerous classes throughout the year to help new and existing businesses improve performance and turn ideas into viable business concepts. Each year, a “First Steps to Entrepreneurship” workshop is offered in both Ozaukee and Washington Counties. The “Fast Trac“ Entrepreneur Training Course, which is a nine-week intensive course geared toward starting and growing a business, is also offered once per year in Ozaukee or Washington County. All other SBDC courses are taught at the UW-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education campus in downtown Milwaukee. Check the website for course offerings. The SBDC also runs the Wisconsin Business AnswerLine, which provides counselors to answer your small business questions from 8:30 to 4:30, Monday through Friday. The AnswerLine number is 1.800.940.7232.
State Resources
Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation (WBD)
The Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation (WBD) was formed to assist small businesses in gaining access to capital in order to grow their businesses, provide job opportunities, and inspire their communities. The WBD provides the knowledge, service, and resources to foster economic development solutions that grow jobs, businesses, and communities. The WBD provides Small Business Administration 504 loans, which help small businesses secure long-term, fixed-rate financing. WBD also provides consulting and loan packaging services to banks and borrowers. The WBD office closest to Ozaukee County is located in Waukesha at W229 N1433 Westwood Drive, Suite 206. The Waukesha office phone number is 262.970.8533.
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation – Business Development (WEDC)
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) offers a variety of resources for starting or growing your business. The WEDC website has information about a variety of technical and financial assistance programs, including technology business tax credit programs, assistance for minority and women-owned businesses, and regulatory and advocacy assistance. Another WEDC resource is the “Area Development Managers,” who assist business expansions and promote business retention. Area Development Managers (ADM) use their knowledge of federal, state, and regional resources to provide a variety of information to expanding or relocating firms. They also mobilize resources to help struggling businesses.
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)
The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) is a statewide economic development corporation that provides quality business education and financing to Wisconsin’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. WWBIC offers educational programs, small business loans, and individualized business assistance. The WWBIC is located at 2745 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee. Call 414.263.5450 for additional information.
Federal Resources
US Small Business Administration (SBA)
The US 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 nation. The SBA website has information about SBA loans, disaster assistance, free online training courses, laws and regulations relating to small business, and a library of online resources. The closest Wisconsin District Office is located at 310 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Room 400, in Milwaukee. The phone number for the Milwaukee office is 414.297.3941.