Women’s Business Initiative expands footprint in La Crosse to put dreams to work’

WWBIC provides direct lending, education and networking opportunities to Wisconsin entrepreneurs

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT)- The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. opened an office near La Crosse’s Valley View Mall.  WWBIC has been helping entrepreneurs statewide since 1987. This is the first time the corporation has had a physical building in Western Wisconsin. Members have been helping local business owners throughout the pandemic.

You can find a little bit of everything inside Handmade Natural Beauty Boutique.  After the pandemic forced owner  Angie Neyns to close her doors temporarily to foot traffic, business is bouncing back — thanks in part to the skills Neyns learned through WWBIC.

“It was a great program,” she said. “It gave me hope that I was going to have a business to come back to.”

WWBIC provides direct lending, education and networking opportunities to Wisconsin entrepreneurs with the focus of helping women, people of color and low-income individuals.

“The last year has created many challenges, but also a lot of opportunity, ” says Mara Keyes, the WWBIC’s regional project director.

WWBIC offered virtual programing throughout the pandemic. Neyns took classes and teamed up with a business coach to update her website and expand her online services. “It gave me the opportunity to look at what are some other ways I could still reach my customers, ” says Neyns.  

WWBIC is expanding its footprint by opening an office in La Crosse, providing face-to-face, local support for small business owners and other entrepreneurs ready to put their dreams to work.  WWBIC receives funding from private and public sources, and offers small business owners loans ranging from $1,000 to $250,000. 

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