Wisconsin
Learn More about CDFI's and Small Business Resources in see here
While the federal government does not provide grants for starting or growing small businesses, one of the mechanisms in place to promote small business growth and economic development is the Community Development Financial Institution Fund managed by the US Department of the Treasury.
Community Development Financial Institutions fall into four categories:
The Small Business Administration has established the Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZone) Empowerment Contracting Program wherein they aim to provide federal contracting assistance to eligible small business corporations which are located in underutilized business zones so as to improve their employment opportunities, investments, and their area's economic development.
The Small Business Administration has established the Portable Assistance Program wherein they seek to provide grants to Small Business Development Lead Centers that provide services to small businesses in an effort to increase the success of small business establishments and their viability in certain communities where economic hardship is apparent and is attributable to the impact of a major disaster.
An interview with John Elkington, Founder and Chief Entrepreneur, SustainAbility. Social entrepreneurs are generating impressive results — and capturing the imaginations of businesspeople and public policy makers.