Applications no longer accepted

Deadline was Dec. 31, 2022

Program goal:

The goal of the Wisconsin Tomorrow Main Street Bounceback Grant (DBA Brick and Mortar Bounceback) Program is to provide one-time assistance to new and existing businesses opening a new location or expanding operations in a vacant commercial space.

Program description:

The program will provide grants to approved entities with the capacity to deploy rapid response grants to businesses opening locations in vacant commercial spaces. The grants are to assist the business with costs associated with leases, mortgages, operational expenses and other business costs related to the newly opened location. Grants to businesses provide immediate recovery funding from the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) and lead to improved odds of a business opening or expanding and remaining open long-term. WEDC will contract with approved entities to distribute and administer these grants in their respective geographic areas of the state.

Program eligibility:

Main Street Bounceback Grants are available to for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations meeting the following criteria:

  • Must be located in a region where approved entity has received an allocation

  • Must certify that the business has not vacated and  will not vacate a commercial space in Wisconsin to become eligible to claim this grant

Businesses are ineligible to apply for the grants if they are:

  • Part of a national or regional chain, unless the business is an independently owned and operated franchise

  • Governmental units (except for tribal enterprises/corporations)
  • A home-based business, unless they are moving their business functions into the vacant commercial space

  • Real estate investment firms that intend to hold the property for investment purposes, as opposed to otherwise eligible small business concerns for the purpose of occupying the real estate being acquired

  • Engaged in any illegal activity under federal, state or local law

Or if they intend to use the space for:

  • Storage only

  • Residential purposes and lessors of residential units/property (landlords) unless the business unit of the lessor is moving into a vacant commercial space to support functions of the business

I’M INTERESTED. WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?

Use this map to find your region. Then, contact the regional partner to apply for the grant.

REGION 1

KATE COSTELLO
Northwest Regional Planning Commission
715.635.2197 ext. 230
Email | Visit website

REGION 2

DAVE BONIFAS
Mississippi River Regional Planning Commission
608.785.9396
Email | Visit website

REGION 3

DENNIS LAWRENCE
North Central Regional Planning Commission
715.849.5510 ext. 304
Email

REGION 4

JASON FIELDS
Madison Region Economic Partnership
608.571.0408
Email | Visit website

REGION 5

SARA GILBERT
East Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
920.886.6825
Email | Visit website

REGION 6

SUSAN BADTKE
West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
715.836.2918
Email

REGION 7

DAVID LATONA
Milwaukee Development Corporation
414.269.1445
Email

REGION 8

SYDNEY SWAN
Bay Lake Regional Planning Commission
920.448.2820
Email | Visit website

REGION 9

TROY MAGGIED
Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
608.342.1636
Email | Visit website

CONNECT WITH MORE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES

Let us know who you are, so we can let you know how we can help. Whether or not Main Street Bounceback Grants are the right fit for you, when you register your business with WEDC you can stay up to date on all the programs, resources and support from us and our regional economic development partners. If you’re a Wisconsin small business owner, startup entrepreneur or established large business enterprise, you’re sure to receive information that will help you build an economy for all.