Marquette County, WI Economic Development

Applications are now open for the Marquette County Business Grant!

This grant program is designed to support small businesses in Marquette County that are investing in growth, improvements, and innovation. This grant can help you utilize your digital footprint through social media ads and boosts.

📅 Applications are open now — learn more and apply here: https://forms.gle/9LeERbi47fQAsKKy9

Let’s keep our local businesses growing strong right here in Marquette County.

Marquette County Business Social Media Marketing Grant – Round Two Marquette County is offering a second round of the WEDC-funded Business Marketing Grant to help local businesses strengthen their online presence through Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and Google advertising. Eligible businesses may apply for reimbursement funds to cover the cost of boosted posts or paid...

Marquette County Small Business Online Advertising Grants Applications Now Open

Marquette County businesses with 25 or fewer full-time employees can now apply for grants for advertising their business online through channels such as Facebook, Instagram or Google Ads. (A common example would be boosting a post on Facebook to get it out to a greater audience) Applications are open through Monday, May 12.

Don’t know how to advertise online? That’s ok! County staff will provide you with the training you need to help you understand marketing online and assist you with placing your ads.

Don’t have a lot of time? You can schedule ads in one sitting for a month in advance.

All small businesses are encouraged to apply. Whether you are the only employee or you have multiple employees.

There will be three grant periods. From the time first awards are made this spring through September. (Applications open now). Later this year applications will open for the second period from Oct. 2025-March 2026. Then the final grant application period will open for April 2026-September 2026. Businesses will be able to apply for multiple grant periods as each one opens up.

The current period is from when awards are made this spring through September of 2025. All funds granted for this period must be expended by September 30, 2025.

How it works: If you are awarded a grant, you will receive any online marketing training needed to use online tools and target your ads, along with assistance with marketing planning, and help interpreting the results of your advertising.

You will submit your advertising receipt and the results of the advertising (Facebook, Instagram, Google, etc. will provide these numbers) . Then you will be reimbursed by the grant fund!

The link to he application can be found here https://forms.gle/t7AfUNaiCPeVcGee7

For more information contact:
Keri Solis
Marquette County Economic Development
& Tourism Coordinator
608-297-1000 (cell/direct line)
[email protected]

GRANT OPPORTUNITY! Attention Marquette County business owners! You are invited to the Marquette County Business and Tourism Summit on Tuesday, April 29 at 6pm at the Marquette County Services Center in Montello. Online attendance also available. (Link will be sent closer to meeting date) Learn more about a new GRANT available exclusively for Marquette County small businesses (25 or fewer full-time employees) for online advertising, discussion on what is working for businesses in the area/future networking for best practices, and marketing efforts of the visitor's bureau. Please RSVP here for in person or online attendance (so you can be sent the link), or if you cannot make it, but would like more information. https://forms.gle/Fo3A6Nwo9x4EsoNB6

Marquette County Business Owners - The county is currently conducting a short survey to learn more about business needs in Marquette County and how we can better assist you. We would appreciate it if you could take a couple minutes to complete the survey at this link.

Marquette County Feb 2025 Business Survey

Check out this story about a Montello business!

Jim Lutz, who with his wife Lisa, owns Weezie’s Town Pump in Montello, comes from a family with a long history of military service. It was in the early 1980’s that he joined the Army. Serving during peace time, he was stationed at places such as Ft. Knox and Germany. Back then, he had no idea that after his time in the military was over, he would eventually end up in Marquette County.

The Lutz’s began coming to the Monello area to visit friends before getting a camper of their own at Wilderness Campground. Falling in love with Marquette County, they have lived in a couple of different homes near Montello.

Even though his parents were in the bar and resort business, Jim never had any intention of doing so himself. That changed one day when he walked into what was then Sondalle’s Town Pump in the middle of the day for a soda. He found out the business was for sale and long story made short, he bought it. He said that he didn’t even tell Lisa that he was buying it until just before the closing. Jim joked, “She had been looking for something to do in the area, so I told her I got her a job!”

What he likes about the bar is that they have great employees and many great regular customers. “I don’t have to worry about any problems. We have met so many great people and have so many great friends there.”

Besides serving up drinks and providing a great place for people to socialize, the bar also puts on a free Thanksgiving and Christmas spread, with many friends and family making dishes to ensure everyone has a place to go for the holidays. They also have many raffles that benefit local organizations.

Jim, who is in the building trades, enjoys fixing things up, and feels that being in the Army enhanced his discipline. In addition to Weezie’s Town Pump, he and Lisa have bought several other buildings in downtown Montello, including those that are home to the Montello Candle Company, Narrow Road Ministries, the former Rusty Star, and most recently they purchased the Central Wisconsin Pharmacy building.

When asked why they are investing so much in Montello, he said they “just love the town and it is a great place to live. We are here to stay.”

This story is a part of a series featuring bars owned by veterans in the county.

A great Marquette County small business!

We are trying to learn more about what you think is already great and what you would like to see in our communities. Take this quick survey to give your input. You can take the survey more than once if you would like to comment on more than one community! Thank you for your input!

Marquette County Communities Survey You may fill out a form for more than one community by taking the survey again after you submit for the first community.

Thank you for all the great responses so far to the broadband survey!!! We are learning a lot to help put in place broadband plans for residents, part-time residents and visitors. If you are a resident or part-time resident, please take a moment to answer this survey about broadband satisfaction and affordability in Marquette County. Your responses will help form the updated broadband plan and assist with grant opportunities. Currently there is additional high speed internet expansion planned in the county for 2025 and 2026.
Thank you! Here is a link to the survey

Marquette County Broadband Survey This survey will assist with broadband planning efforts throughout the county.

Broadband expansion and affordability information needed! Marquette County is working on updating their broadband plan. Currently there is additional high speed internet expansion planned in the county for 2025 and 2026.

In addition to looking for information on broadband satisfaction, we are looking for information on affordability and internet use to build the plan. Please take a moment to take the survey to help us build the plan. Thank you!

Marquette County Broadband Survey This survey will assist with broadband planning efforts throughout the county.

ANOTHER UPDATE - Application deadline has moved again. The deadline has moved back to the original deadline of July 31st.

Many Marquette County businesses have been impacted this year by the warm winter. As a result, the governor was able to declare a disaster emergency for Marquette and several other Wisconsin counties, which made a federal loan program available through the SBA. (Small Business Administration)

Businesses that qualify pay no interest on the loan for the first year and a maximum rate of four percent for the rest of the loan period. In order to take advantage of the program, businesses must apply by the application deadline for their county. For Marquette County it is now July 31st.

Businesses may submit applications and find additional disaster assistance information at https://lending.sba.gov. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

Edit - March 7th - The deadline has moved back again to July 31st, which was the original deadline.

UPDATE - Deadline Moved up to April 15th (now July 31st)

Many Marquette County businesses have been impacted this year by the warm winter. As a result, the governor was able to declare a disaster emergency for Marquette and several other Wisconsin counties, which made a federal loan program available through the SBA. (Small Business Administration)

Businesses that qualify pay no interest on the loan for the first year and a maximum rate of four percent for the rest of the loan period. In order to take advantage of the program, businesses must apply by the application deadline for their county. For Marquette County it is now July 31st.

Businesses may submit applications and find additional disaster assistance information at https://lending.sba.gov. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information on SBA disaster assistance.