Community-based organizations and local officials seeking to promote business growth and development will want to apply for project funding through Community-Based Economic Development (CBED) Program in the Department of Commerce (Commerce). Application deadline is January 12, 2007.

"The CBED Program has played an important role in developing strong organizational capacity to support local economic development activities," said Commerce Secretary Mary P. Burke. "We want to support activities that will have the greatest impact on local economies and the state as a whole."

The CBED Program awards grants to community-based organizations for development and business assistance projects and to municipalities for economic development planning. The program also helps community-based organizations plan, build, and create business and technology-based incubators, and can also capitalize an incubator tenant revolving-loan program.

Commerce will show preference to applications that address the following program priorities:

• Support activities designed to develop or expand tech-based incubators.
• Target promising and innovative community-based projects that promote entrepreneurship
• Promote a regional approach to community development and encourage collaboration between multiple organizations to implement a unique or innovative solution to a local development problem.

To apply, or for additional program information, contact Doug Thurlow, Commerce, 608/266-7942.

-- Tony Hozeny

The newsletter is issued electronically every other month.

Please send comments or questions to Barbro McGinn, editor.