Waupun Business Wins IGNITE! Entrepreneur Grant
Waupun Business Wins IGNITE! Entrepreneur Grant City’s Partnership with County Program Proves Successful
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Release Contact: Kathy Schlieve, City Administrator & Director of Economic Development at City of Waupun, 920.324.7912 or Kathy@cityofwaupun.org.
Waupun, Wis.—Dec. 20, 2017—Reiki Essentials & Wellness, a Waupun-based business offering Reiki therapy, meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, sound therapy and essential oils, is the city’s first business to receive the $2,000 Fond du Lac County IGNITE! Entrepreneur grant.
The City of Waupun partnered with IGNITE! Business Resource Network to further extend the City’s business and economic development offerings to Waupun-area businesses. The IGNITE! Entrepreneur Grant – offered annually – exists to assist Fond du Lac County entrepreneurs with expenses associated with starting or operating a business. Eligibility is open to businesses less than two-years-old and to business owners and entrepreneurs who complete the IGNITE! Certification Program.
Tyra Walters, owner of Reiki Essentials & Wellness, explained, “The City of Waupun hosted an IGNITE business course in Waupun. After attending I wanted to learn more about how I could grow my business so I signed up for IGNITE’s two-day business workshop. I was able to create a marketing plan, business plan and meet other business owners. It was at this workshop that I decided my business was at the crucial point of either closing or expanding based on limited operating resources I had.”
Walters added, “I needed new point of sale equipment, additional inventory, product display units and marketing materials but funds were limited because I work full time and Reiki Essentials & Wellness is a part-time business for me. I was stuck. Do I invest so I can expand or limit myself with what I have and prohibit the business from growing? Through IGNITE, I developed a business plan and applied for the entrepreneur grant because I was ready to grow.”
The IGNITE! Entrepreneur Grant requires applicants to complete the IGNITE! Certification Program, accomplish key milestones and business development steps, and work with an IGNITE! coach. The first 15 businesses in Fond du Lac County that become IGNITE! Certified are eligible to apply for the IGNITE! Entrepreneur grant.
“Reiki Essentials & Wellness is a solid example of what the City’s partnership with IGNITE! set out to do,” explained Kathy Schlieve, City of Waupun administrator and director of economic development. “Our goal is to help businesses – from start up to established – by providing the tools and resources needed to begin, grow or maintain. We’re so proud of Tyra on completing the IGNITE! program and applying for the grant so that her business can continue to provide alterative health services to the community. The City’s goal is to see more Waupun area businesses follow Tyra’s lead and take advantage of the many courses and resources available.”
To learn more about IGNITE! visit ignitefondulaccounty.com
About the City of Waupun: The City of Waupun is centrally located along the US 151 corridor within a one-hour drive of Madison, Milwaukee and the Fox Cities and is positioned to support economic growth with available industrial, residential and commercial properties for development. The community’s Downtown Business District is being revitalized with an ongoing commitment to historic preservation, programming to support business improvement, and expanding resources designed to help entrepreneurs.
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