TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Technical assistance services available to small and medium-sized businesses include: Regional Economic Development Managers: Assist businesses with expansions, promote business retention and help local development organizations. wedc.org BizStarts Milwaukee: Offers coaching and connections to mentor resources for new and existing companies. bizstarts.com CEOs of Growing Businesses (CGB): Brings together entrepreneurs who operate businesses with consistent growth and annual revenues in excess of $3 million. CGB provides monthly roundtables, educational forums and networking opportunities. mmac.org/cgb Consortium for Economic Opportunity: Connects non-profit organizations and small businesses to achieve economic growth in Milwaukee’s low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Includes UW-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education, Small Business Development Center and UWM Center for Economic Development. Telephone: (414) 2295881. Corporate Partner Network: Milwaukee School of Engineering program that offers reduced tuition rate for the school’s MBA and graduate nursing programs; a discounted rate for graduate and professional education (GPE) course offerings; corporate site training opportunities; corporate consultations on managerial and organizational improvement, business systems, processes and tools; and global competency. Telephone: (414) 277-2710. msoe.edu/cpn
corporate governance, funding/financing, business contracts, employment, business licenses and permits, trademark, copyright and other basic intellectual property matters, and commercial leases. law.marquette.edu/community/marquettelaw-and-entrepreneurship-clinic Milwaukee Development Center: A division of the city’s Department of Neighborhood Services, provides single point of contact for developers, contractors, businesses and builders undertaking development projects in the city. city.milwaukee.gov/permits SCORE: Free business counseling, mentoring, inexpensive seminars and workshops for new, existing and expanding businesses. scoresewisconsin.org U.S. Small Business Administration: Offers loan programs and technical assistance to businesses. sba.gov/wi Waukesha County Technical College Small Business Services: Free one-on-one counseling, networking, classes, technical assistance and referrals for financial assistance. wctc.edu/smallbusiness Wisconsin Innovation Service Center: Helps entrepreneurs research product feasibility, competitive intelligence, licensing/strategic partnering and distributor assessments. uww.edu Wisconsin Job Center Network: A single point of contact for employment needs, including statewide job postings. Other services include job fairs and special recruitments. jobcenterofwisconsin.com Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP): Provides consulting services to manufacturing companies to help them become more profitable and valuable using an integrated suite of assessments and services that help customers grow, reduce costs, increase capacity, achieve certification and compliance, improve quality and maximize their human capital investment. wmep.org Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) Financing and Business Seminars: Links seasoned business owners and corporate professionals directly with entrepreneurs. Telephone: (414) 263-5450. wwbic.com
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Customized Professional Development Solutions: Maximize your company’s investment by finding the customized program that best meets the professional development needs of your employees. Customized Professional Development Solutions assists with the design, development and delivery of a customized training program. Questions and requests for a no-obligation meeting can be directed to (414) 227-3264. uwm.edu/sce/customized-training Kenosha Area Business Alliance: Offers leadership development, supervisory, forklift training, and first aid and CPR courses. Professional roundtable discussions for CEOs, human resource professionals and manufacturers are also offered throughout the year. Telephone: (262) 605-1100. kaba.org Small Business Development Centers: A partnership with the Small Business Administration, these small-class workshops cover a variety of business topics including marketing, managing cash flow, digital marketing, business plans, financials, obtaining a business loan and a readiness assessment for starting a business and for people already in business or thinking about starting one. wisconsinsbdc.org Small Business Workshops: Held in conjunction with the U.S. Small Business Administration, these small-class workshops cover a variety of business topics, including marketing, managing cash flow, digital marketing, business plans, financials, business loans, and readiness assessments. scoresewisconsin.org University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Continuing Education: Training programs designed to improve business performance with customized solutions that meet specific organization and employee development goals. Programs can be delivered onsite. Telephone: (414) 227-3243. sce-customized.uwm.edu
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTERS
The state of Wisconsin’s Workforce Development Centers offer employers comprehensive services for training and finding employees. They can also provide a variety of skills assessments, customized on-site training to address specific job requirements and outplacement services. wfdc.org
Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship: Marquette University’s Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship, part of the Office of Research and Innovation, supports new venture creation by Marquette students, faculty, alumni and friends; provides outreach to the central city business community; and research on entrepreneurship. The Kohler Center is located in the new 707 Hub. marquette.edu/707-hub
The following training and educational resources are available to the region’s start-ups and small businesses.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Marquette Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic: Offers free legal services to start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, with a focus on clients who cannot afford qualified legal counsel. The LEC is staffed by Marquette law students, who receive hands-on training in business law under the supervision of a licensed attorney. The LEC provides legal services to its clients in many key areas, with a focus on the following matters: business entity selection and formation,
Center for Supply Chain Management: Conducted by best-in-class faculty from Marquette University’s College of Business Administration and beyond. Corporate and executive education delivers highly informative and interactive learning experiences through custom-designed programs. The center has worked with groups at Johnson Controls, Direct Supply and Rockwell Automation. Telephone: (414) 288-3995.
U.S. Small Business Administration: Helps small companies understand the federal government’s contracting services and become prime contractors for federal agencies. Telephone: (414) 297-3941. sba.gov/wi
TRAINING PROGRAMS
The following resource assists small and medium-size businesses with finding and securing government purchasing opportunities.
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Business Resources
The Business Council also offers members the opportunity to share information on issues that affect small businesses and the minority community; a voice on public policy issues; access to experienced professional advisors; and networking opportunities with larger businesses. Telephone: (414) 287-4172. mmac.org