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for risk takers, movers + shakers
The FALL 2026 grant cycle opens September 8!
| ELIGIBILITY |
Open to women throughout 18 counties in western Wisconsin who want to start a NEW business. We consider the start-up phase to be three years old or younger. Expansions of businesses older than three years and franchises are not eligible. If you have already received a Red Letter Grant, you cannot re-apply for the same business, but you may apply for a new start-up. RLG does not fund non-profit organizations.
Eligible counties include:
Region 1: Buffalo, Clark, Chippewa, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, and Trempealeau.
Three $2,000 grants and one $4,000 grant will be awarded in November 2026.
Region 2: Barron, Burnett, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn.
Three $2,000 grants and one $4,000 grant will be awarded in November 2026.
| FALL 2026 GRANT CYCLE |
September 8 - Applications OPEN
October 12 - (Monday) Application deadline. Applications are due at 11pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
October 12 - 31 - Judges review applications.
November 2 - 6 - Finalists will be invited to interview. Please note not all applicants will advance to the interview round.
November 9 - 13 - Celebration and Awards. Region 1 and Region 2. Grantee announcement LIVE at these separate events. Date and Time TBD. All are welcome.
| FALL 2026 VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION | A virtual information session is scheduled for Tuesday, August 25, 2026 from 4:30pm to 5:30pm.
You can join the information session at the provided date/time via Microsoft Teams using the link below:
| SPRING 2026 VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION |
Watch the virtual session we recorded for the Spring 2026 grant cycle below for information about the Red Letter Grant including:
Eligibility
Available Funding
Application Questions
Judging Criteria
Application Deadlines
| RESOURCES | We encourage you to utilize the following FREE community resources as you develop your business plan:
Small Business Development Centers at:
UW-Eau Claire: https://wisconsinsbdc.org/centers/eauclaire/
UW-La Crosse: https://wisconsinsbdc.org/centers/lacrosse/
UW-River Falls: www.uwrf.edu/CBE/Centers/SmallBusinessDevelopmentCenter
UW-Superior: https://wisconsinsbdc.org/centers/superior/
Women’s Business Center - Western Dairyland: www.successfulbusiness.org/#
Entrepreneurs’ Toolkit: https://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/entrepreneurs-toolkit/introduction/
SCORE of Western Wisconsin: westernwisconsin.score.org
First Nations Community Financial: https://firstnationsfinancial.org/our-services/
| OTHER RESOURCES/ACCESS TO CAPITAL |
DECI Jump-Start Competition: www.downtowneauclaire.org/jumpstart-grant
EDC Idea Challenge: www.eauclaire-wi.com/entrepreneurs/idea-challenge/
Doyenne Group: https://doyennegroup.org/
