Other Business Resources

​

If you need help with business development, check out these resources!

• The Business Council (TBC)​ is a membership organization designed to assist minority business enterprises in scaling by offering targeted programming, education, and advocacy alongside our partner organizations and corporate members seeking to diversify their spend or achieve their supplier diversity goals.  ​​
  

• ​Small B​usin​ess Association (SBA)​ - In addition to their loan programs, SBA has trainings on growing and sustaining businesses.
  

• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)​ - Focused on women-owned businesses, WWBIC offers development opportunities for growth strategies, loans, and financial knowledge. 
  

• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) - WEDC provides many financial development opportunities to businesses as well as support for entrepreneurs and training programs.
  

• Wisconsin Procurement Ins​titute (WPI) - WPI provides assistance to businesses applying for certifications and bidding on federal, state and local contracts.

• Wisconsin's Department of Transportation's (WisDOT) Office of Business Opportunity and Equity Compliance (OBO​EC)​ - In addition to certifying diverse suppliers, OBOEC offers a mentor/mentee program, networking events, and other training opportunities.​
  
  

Here are some additional training resources:

• Ethnic and Diverse Business Coalition (EDBC) ​- EDBC helps with overall business development and training.
  

• National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) - Wisconsin Chapter​​ - Especially focusing on contracts and business done with the government, NAMC offers opportunities for business development training.
  

• North Central Minority ​Supplier Devel​opment Council (NCMSDC) - NCMSDC offers a certification program, developmental opportunities for businesses, connections with other companies, and advocates for minority businesses.
  

• Small Bus​iness Development Center​​ (SBDC) - A program from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, SBDC helps with starting, managing, and growing businesses.
  

• Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA​​)​ ​-  WHEDA offers business development materials with an emphasis on companies related to the real estate industry.
  

Chambers are a great way to network and develop your business with the help of a nonprofit in niche areas. If you need help with completing the application or business development in general, consider contacting a Chamber.

Here is a list of Diverse Chambers in Wisconsin:

• African Americ​​an Chamber​ of Commerce - Greater Milwaukee​
  
• American​ Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin ​(AICCW - FACC)​*​​​
• Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce*
  
• Latino Entrepreneurial Network ​of Southeastern Wisconsin*​
• Madison Black Chamber of Commerce​*
  
• Madison Latino Chamber of Commerce of Dane County*​
  
• National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)​*
  
• The Business Council*
  
• Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce​*
  
• ​​Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce​
  
• Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce​*
  
• ​​​​Wisconsin Veteran's Chamber of Commerce*
  

​

Here are a few places to begin with for financial assistance:

• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) - WEDC helps businesses within Wisconsin reach their full potential with training and connecting them to loan programs. 
  

• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) - WWBIC offers help in starting, growing, and financing woman-owned business​es.
  

• ​Small Business Administration​​​ (SBA) - SBA helps business with finances and business development.  
  

    (Note: This list is not exhaustive.)

There are other certifiers of diverse populations in Wisconsin besides the Supplier Diversity Program. 

WisDOT​​​ - Office of Business Opportunity and Equity Compliance (OBOEC) is our highlighted resource! WisDOT houses the Disadvantaged-Business Enterprise (DBE) certification within the State of Wisconsin, as well as many other development opportunities for businesses. If your business becomes certified with WisDOT, you are able to streamline the certification ​process with the SDP using a Substantially Equivalent Application (SEA), which is a wonderful resource!

Other certifications available in Wisconsin:

• City of Madison​
  
• City of Milwaukee
  
• ​Small Business Administration (SBA)
  
• Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)
  
• Unified Certification Program (UCP)​​
  
• Wisconsin Minority Supplier Development Council
• Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC)
• ​Wisconsin Veteran-Owned Business​
  

 

The Wisconsin Procurement Institute (WPI) provides assistance with applying for certifications and bidding on federal, state, and local contracts.

This list has other resources for bidding opportunities in the fields of engineering, architecture, goods, services, and construction. There are numerous resources listed. Don't forget to ​follow our BID | WIN | PERFORM​guidelines​.

• Beloit Public Works Contracting
  
• Brown County Purchasing Dept.
  
• Dane County Purchasing Division
• Eau Claire County Purchasing
  
• Eau Claire Purchasing Division
• Fond du Lac County Purchasing
• Green Bay Public Works
• Janesville Public Works
• Jefferson County
  
• Kenosha County Public Works
• Kenosha Finance Dept.
• La Crosse Bid Postings
  
• La Crosse County​
  
• Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD)
• Madison Purchasing
• Milwaukee Public Schools
• Sheboygan County Purchasing
• Outagamie County Purchasing
• Polk County Bid Postings
• Portage County RFP’s
• Racine County Purchasing
• Racine Dept. of Public Works
• Rock County Purchasing
• Sauk County RFP’s
• Sheboygan Engineering Dept.
• St. Croix County Purchasing
• UW-Office of Procurement
• Walworth County Purchasing
• Waukesha County Public Works
• Wauwatosa Purchasing Dept.​
• West Allis Public Works
  
• Winnebago County Purchasing
  ​
  

(Images from Pixabay.com​)​

​
​​​​​