Business Resources

Many government and private agencies offer help for small businesses. Here are some of the major sources of assistance:

UW-Madison Small Business Development Center
Grainger Hall, Room 3260,
975 University Ave., 53706
Telephone: 608-263-7680.
www.uwsbdc.org.
A business education resource providing help with the basic skills of running a business to specialized technical assistance. Its staff of experienced business professionals answers telephone questions and performs one-on-one counseling for business owners in Dane, Columbia and Sauk counties. Also offers courses on business planning, leadership and a women-in-business breakfast seminar series.

SBDC Business Answer Line
Provides information about opening and expanding a business to individuals throughout the state of Wisconsin 800-940-7232.
E-mail: sbdcanswerline@bus.wisc.edu.
www.uwsbdc.org.

UW-Madison Family Business Center
The Fluno Center
601 University Ave., 53715 -1035
608-441-7338
Fax: 441-7337
E-mail: fbc@fluno.com
Web address: exed.wisc.edu/fbc
Helps family business owners and their families and employees maintain profitable businesses and successfully transfer ownership control. The center offers a range of resources for families committed to growth and perpetuation of the family enterprise. It provides access to top professionals with expertise in succession planning, financial management, estate planning, family dynamics, business planning, human resources, banking, law and insurance.

Impact Seven
147 Lake Almena Drive
Almena, WI 54805
715-357-3334
Fax: 715-357-6233
E-mail: impact@impactseven.org
www.impactseven.org
A statewide community private non-profit community development organization. Offers business lending and venture capital investment; technical assistance to new and expanding businesses and other community development organizations; affordable and market-rate housing development; historic preservation; development of commercial/industrial property; community organizing, planning and development consultation with under-served communities; low income home mortgage lending; single family home construction; investment in community centers.

U.S. Small Business Administration
740 Regent St., Suite 100, 53715
608-441-5263
www.sba.gov/wi
The Wisconsin SBA office is responsible for the delivery of many of SBA?s programs and services to the state?s 72 counties. It also offers a variety of loan programs for start-up or expanding businesses. Programs include financial and federal contract procurement assistance; specialized outreach to women, minorities and veterans; funds to privately owned venture capital investment firms; loans to victims of natural disaster; and assistance with international trade. Informational materials are also available in Spanish.

Wisconsin Department of Commerce Business Helpline
201 W. Washington Ave. 53703
800-435-7287
www.commerce.wi.gov
For assistance with clean air regulations, call 267-9214 or 264-6153.
Provides business financing and community loan information to businesses, as well as technical assistance and information for businesses and state business districts. Provides information about permits needed to conduct business, financial resources and state publications for businesses.

Wisconsin Procurement Institute
756 N. Milwaukee St., Milwaukee, 53202
414-270-3600
E-mail: www.wispro.org
This nonprofit organization assists Wisconsin companies in doing business with federal, state and local government agencies and prime contractors. Helps find opportunities; navigate the government procurement process; administer proposals, contracts and subcontracts; find and expand business over the Internet; and identify grants and other sources of research funding.

Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
201 E. Washington Ave., 53702
608-266-3131
Fax: 608-266-1784
dwd.wisconsin.gov
This state agency provides job services, training and employment assistance to people looking for work and helps employers find workers. Its employment programs include securing jobs for the disabled, assisting former welfare recipients transition into work, promoting 75 job centers, linking youth with the jobs, protecting and enforcing worker?s rights, processing unemployment claims and ensuring workers compensation claims are paid in accordance with the law. For Wisconsin labor law information and posters, call 608-266-6860. The Dane County Job Hotline: 608-266-4123. Unemployment insurance, 608-232-0678, Web site ucclaim-wi.org. Vocational rehabilitation, 800-442-3477 Worker?s compensation, 266-1340.

Demographic Services Center
101 E. Wilson St., 10th Floor 53702-0001
608-266-1927
E-mail: www.doa.state.wi.us/pagesubtext_detail.asp?linksubcatid=353
Part of the state Department of Administration, this center can provide information about Wisconsin residents, gathered from Census information.

Legislative Reference Bureau
1 E. Main St. Suite 200, 53701
608-266-0341
www.legis.state.wi.us/lrb/index.htm.
Provides information about state laws, both passed and pending.

Wisconsin Department of Administration
Division of Agency Services, Bureau of Procurement
Telephone: 608-264-7897
101 E. Wilson St., sixth floor, 53708

This agency can tell you how to go about selling products in the state of Wisconsin.