Rural Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Initiative
The Rural Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Initiative supports the development of rural entrepreneurial ecosystems across the state of Wisconsin.
Overview
The Rural Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Initiative (RWEI) provides education, training, research, and technical assistance to small businesses and entrepreneurs, economic development practitioners, and communities that are interested in supporting and developing entrepreneurial activity in rural Wisconsin. The RWEI is a partnership between the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to provide much-needed resources, support, and technical assistance to rural entrepreneurs across the state.
Upcoming Events
Immigration, Employment, and Entrepreneurship: A Legal Symposium for Wisconsin’s Workforce
Join us for a professional development training for business service providers who work with new immigrants and newcomers in Wisconsin, covering topics related to employment and entrepreneurship. Continuing legal education credit available.
Want to Host?
Accepting Applications for 2025 Hosts
Connecting Entrepreneurial Communities Conference
The CEC Conference hosts a statewide conversation about entrepreneurship in small towns in Wisconsin.
Programs
Homegrown
Homegrown is a training focused on building and strengthening local entrepreneurial networks.
Cohort-Based Assistance
Cohort-based technical assistance for rural entrepreneurs in underserved places, industries, and size categories.
Maximizing Success
Maximizing Success is a professional development training for organizations that support Entrepreneurs of Color.
Wisconsin REV
Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) is a proven entrepreneurial development program designed to advance small town economies .
Homegrown: Entrepreneurship in Your Community
Homegrown is a program focused on building and strengthening local entrepreneurial networks. It is a joint effort between University of Wisconsin Extension and University of Missouri Extension. Homegrown can be tailored to community members or professionals with a shared interest in learning about entrepreneurship. Through RWEI, Extension makes the Homegrown training available to communities around Wisconsin.
Cohort-Based Assistance
We provide cohort-based technical assistance for rural entrepreneurs in underserved places, industries, and size categories. Our technical assistance focuses on idea-stage entrepreneurs, remote rural entrepreneurs, and industries that require specialized knowledge (e.g. childcare, food businesses, farm-based ventures).
Maximizing Success
Maximizing Success is a professional development training for organizations that support entrepreneurs. It aims to help organizations make their services more inclusive for Entrepreneurs of Color, as well as to attune the business community to racial justice issues. Led by the Entrepreneurs of Color Business Support team, this training is made available to rural organizations looking to enhance their service to diverse entrepreneurs.
Wisconsin Rural Entrepreneurial Venture
Rural Entrepreneurial Venture (REV) is a proven entrepreneurial development program designed to advance small town economies through a targeted business approach. Wisconsin REV is being developed in partnership with Community and Economic Development Associates (CEDA), Compeer Financial, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation (SMIF), and e2 Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. This effort is being funded by Compeer Financial. Launching in 2024, Wisconsin REV provides coaching, resources and connections throughout the visioning and implementation process as each community explores what economic development means for their communities.
