Economic Development

Background

Dane County is soliciting applications from organizations to operate a program aimed at benefiting low- and moderate-income business owners within the Dane County Urban County Consortium. This initiative focuses on economic development activities that are eligible for funding under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, specifically targeting microenterprises and low-to-moderate-income business owners. The total funding available for this project area is approximately $168,000, with individual project requests capped at $60,000.

Work Details

The contract will involve operating programs that provide economic development activities eligible under the CDBG program. Key areas of focus include: 1. Acquisition of land/buildings and rehabilitation of structures. 2. Assistance to microenterprises (defined as businesses with five or fewer employees). 3. Support for business incubators. 4. Direct support through grants, loans, and technical assistance. Projects must be shovel-ready by the first quarter of 2027 and align with community needs documented through data sources.

Period of Performance

The contract is expected to commence upon execution and will run for one year, with potential for four additional one-year renewals based on mutual agreement.

Place of Performance

The services will be performed within the geographic boundaries of the Dane County Urban County Consortium.

Bidder Requirements

Eligible applicants include municipalities, non-profit organizations, or for-profit entities specializing in technical assistance to microenterprises. Applicants must be registered entities in good standing with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Mandatory eligibility requirements include having a Language Access Plan, an Appeals Process/Policy for complaints, and being implementation-ready by Q1 2027.