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Council approves application for WEDC entrepreneurship partner grant
Summary
West Allis will apply for up to $200,000 from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to support entrepreneurship and small-business technical assistance; council authorized the submission by unanimous vote.
The West Allis Common Council authorized staff to submit an entrepreneurship partner grant application to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), with staff proposing a $200,000 request, and the council approving the submission by a 10-0 roll call.
City staff member Patrick told the council the application window had a short deadline (notice released Jan. 6 and due the coming Friday), and staff recommended applying for $200,000. Patrick said the city could leverage existing budgeted economic-development funds as an in-kind match and that "fire investments funds" had been used to pay a consultant supporting technical assistance work. He said the grant could expand technical assistance, develop a mentorship program for new business owners and provide consultant support to help entrepreneurs with financing, social media and post-opening operations.
Alderman Keating asked whether a planned mayor's small-business conference on April 9 is a new initiative or an existing event; Patrick described an April 9 conference that would include panels, networking and a keynote speaker and said the event is intended to seed a mentorship effort. Alderwoman Bridal asked why staff proposed $200,000 when the city might be eligible for up to $400,000; Patrick said staff chose a more conservative $200,000 request and noted a future application window in the fall if this submission is unsuccessful.
Patrick described current technical assistance practices, naming a consultant, Dave Kerscher from Phoenix Advisors, who he said is paid through "fire," and said staff also use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to pay staff time assisting prospects. He gave the example of a recent small-business loan that used consultant-prepared projections to secure bank financing for a farmer-market vendor seeking a commercial property.
Alderwoman Keane moved approval of the application submission; Alderwoman Noling seconded. The clerk recorded a roll call: 10 ayes, 0 nays. The council did not attach additional funding commitments or conditions in the meeting record beyond authorizing the application and potential use of existing city funds as match.
