Woodland Financial Partners Inc. received a $120,700 Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Cooperative Services (CFDA 10.351) awarded on September 26, 2025, with a completion date of September 26, 2027. This two-year project supports economic development in rural and Native American communities through the establishment of small business loan programs, creation of loan loss reserves, and delivery of technical assistance to underbanked populations. As a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) headquartered in Keshena, Wisconsin, Woodland Financial Partners Inc. will use these grant funds to expand financial access and provide critical support to small and emerging businesses in underserved rural areas.
The Rural Business Development Grant Program promotes sustainable economic development by providing grants to intermediary organizations—government agencies, private nonprofits, and federally recognized Indian tribes—rather than directly to businesses. Supported businesses must employ 50 or fewer new employees and have less than $1 million in projected gross revenue. Through this award, Woodland Financial Partners Inc. will continue its mission of serving low-income individuals and communities by establishing loan programs and providing technical assistance to help unbanked and underbanked populations access affordable capital and build economic stability.