The City of Madison’s Economic Development Division is highlighting various programs and resources available to local business owners during National Small Business Week. One such program is Kiva, a crowdfunding platform that offers loans to small business owners and startups at 0% interest. Through Kiva, new business owners can receive up to $15,000 in crowd-funded loans.
Another valuable resource for local businesses is the City of Madison’s Building Improvement Grant program. These grants help business owners cover capital costs associated with renovating the interior and exterior of their retail spaces, allowing them to stay in their current locations longer and establish roots in the community. JustVeggiez, located in a building on State Street built in the late 1800s, was able to participate in this program and received $50,000 from the City to help cover renovation costs.
JustVeggiez, a restaurant, catering, and vending services company located downtown, is one of the Madison businesses that has benefited from the Kiva program, receiving a total of $11,000 in 2023. Funding for the City’s Kiva project comes from the Small Business Equity and Recovery (SBEG) program in the City of Madison’s Operating Budget. To learn more about Kiva loans and how to apply