To be eligible, your business must: - Be a for-profit business (including cooperatives) with a physical location in a community with a population of 4,000 or fewer - Have 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees at the time of application - Be in good standing with local, state, and federal licensing and tax obligations - Be able to demonstrate that grant funds will be used for eligible activities (more on those below) - Provide a 10% match — either as a cash contribution or through a commitment to technical assistance (explained below)

Up to $10,000 Available for Crawford County Small Businesses — Here's How to Apply

Nikki Dudley
May 22
4 min read

If you own a small business in Crawford County, there's a grant opportunity open right now that's worth your attention.

The 2026 7 Rivers Small Business Revitalization Grant Program, administered by the 7 Rivers Alliance in partnership with Community Economic Development Associates (CEDA) and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), is offering micro-grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses in rural Western Wisconsin communities. Crawford County is explicitly within the eligible service area — and virtually every community in our county qualifies based on the population threshold.

The application deadline is August 1, 2026. Don't wait.

Learn more and access the application at the 7 Rivers Alliance website →

Who Is This For?

This grant is built for the kinds of businesses that are the backbone of communities like Gays Mills, Soldiers Grove, Ferryville, Wauzeka, Lynxville, and every small town in between.

To be eligible, your business must:

Be a for-profit business (including cooperatives) with a physical location in a community with a population of 4,000 or fewer
Have 10 or fewer full-time equivalent employees at the time of application
Be in good standing with local, state, and federal licensing and tax obligations
Be able to demonstrate that grant funds will be used for eligible activities (more on those below)
Provide a 10% match — either as a cash contribution or through a commitment to technical assistance (explained below)

Nearly every community in Crawford County falls under that 4,000-population threshold, which means this grant is genuinely accessible to our local business owners.

What Can the Money Be Used For?

Grant funds are designed to support real business growth and community investment. Eligible uses include:

Equipment and technology purchases or upgrades — especially associated with starting a business or launching a new offering
Building projects or façade improvements
New signage
Working capital to assist a start-up
Start-up rent assistance for up to three months

If you've been holding off on upgrading your equipment, refreshing your storefront, or launching a new product line because of capital constraints, this is the program designed to help you move forward.

A few things to note on the ineligible side: funds cannot be used for debt repayment, routine operating expenses, personal expenses, speculative real estate, or activities outside the 7 Rivers Alliance service territory.

The 10% Match Requirement — It's More Flexible Than It Sounds

Every applicant is required to provide a 10% match on the grant amount requested. But you have two options for fulfilling it:

Option 1: Cash match. Provide a minimum of 10% of your grant request in cash.

Option 2: Technical assistance commitment. Commit to up to 20 hours of education, mentorship, or technical assistance coordinated through the SBDC, WWBIC, or an approved partner organization.

The technical assistance option is genuinely valuable — not just a box to check. Grant recipients can access support in areas like:

Business planning and strategy development — one-on-one sessions to refine your business model, succession strategy, or expansion plans
Financial management and lending readiness — training on cash flow forecasting, financial reporting, and preparation for bank or SBA financing
Marketing and digital presence — workshops on website development, e-commerce, and social media
Workforce development and retention — guidance on recruitment, training, and employee engagement
Peer networking and mentorship — facilitated peer-learning sessions with other grant recipients

For many small business owners, that technical assistance may be just as valuable as the grant dollars themselves.

How Applications Are Scored

The 7 Rivers Alliance selection committee reviews all eligible applications on a 100-point rubric. Here's what they're looking for:

Criteria	Points
Business Plan & Project Clarity	0–20
Economic & Community Impact	0–20
Financial Need & Readiness	0–15
Applicant Capacity & Commitment	0–15
Innovation & Resiliency	0–10
Equity & Inclusivity	0–10
Match & Leverage	0–10
Total	100

Applications scoring 90–100 points are strongly recommended for funding. Those scoring 75–89 are recommended if resources allow.

A few things stand out in this rubric worth noting:

Community and economic impact carries significant weight. Applications that can demonstrate job creation, job retention, local supply chain impact, or broader community benefits are well-positioned. Think about what your business's growth means for the people around you — and say so clearly in your application.

Equity and inclusivity is a scored category. Businesses owned by women, minorities, or veterans, or businesses located in underserved rural areas, receive additional consideration. If that describes your business, make sure your application reflects it.

Smaller, targeted requests may be prioritized. The program notes that applicants requesting smaller amounts for focused projects may be given priority to maximize the number of businesses served. You don't need to request the full $10,000 to be competitive — a well-justified ask for a specific project may actually strengthen your application.

Timeline

Applications open: April 1, 2026
Application deadline: August 1, 2026
Recipients announced: By December 31, 2026
Funds distributed: Throughout 2027

How to Apply

The application is a Google Document that you complete and submit. You can access it directly through the 7 Rivers Alliance program page.

The form asks for standard business information, a project proposal describing your goals, activities, and timeline, your intended use of funds, and your financial and matching commitment.

Access the full program details and application here →

A recording of the March 11 informational webinar is also available on that page if you want a fuller walkthrough of the program before applying.

Questions? DDI Can Help.

Driftless Development, Inc. is here to support Crawford County businesses through opportunities like this one. If you have questions about eligibility, want help thinking through your project proposal, or just want to talk through whether this is the right fit for your business, reach out.

Nikki Dudley, Executive Director Driftless Development, Inc. nikki@driftlessdevelopment.org 608-284-8988