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. The start date is determined by the earliest applicable date of the business's Articles of Incorporation, LLC registration, or execution of an operating agreement.

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 |

Watch the virtual session we recorded for the Fall 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/