Fond Du Lac Times

Four communities in Fond du Lac County are working together to support rural small businesses through a new initiative, the WRNC Business Opportunity Fund. The effort was discussed at the 2025 WEDA Fall Best Practices Conference, held at the Oshkosh Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center, where about 200 people from across Wisconsin gathered to discuss economic development topics such as technology, entrepreneurship, talent attraction, and business expansion.

Raina Lyman, senior director of economic development for Envision Greater Fond du Lac, moderated a panel featuring administrators from Ripon, North Fond du Lac, Campbellsport, and Waupun. With guidance from Envision Greater Fond du Lac, these communities created the WRNC Business Opportunity Fund to provide flexible low-interest loans for startups and expanding businesses.

The idea for this collaboration began over a year ago during discussions about shared housing challenges. "That was the first time the four of us were in an actual room together," said Adam Sonntag, Ripon city administrator. Charlie Kudy, Campbellsport’s first village administrator, added: "It took these conversations to realize we were sharing the same challenges and frustrations. We are a lot more similar than we are different." Kathy Schlieve, Waupun City Administrator, described these meetings as “the door to this collaborative spirit.”

The fund is partly supported by a $240,000 Small Business Development Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. It has two funding tracks: loans up to $10,000 for startups and up to $25,000 for expansions. Each loan includes a forgivable grant component if businesses meet certain milestones such as opening or job creation. Applicants must also receive technical assistance from Envision Greater Fond du Lac.

"The technical assistance [requirement] is something you don’t see in other programs," Sonntag said. "Getting that assistance is something that really was the value add to other programs." Schlieve noted that access to capital remains difficult for local entrepreneurs: "Revolving loan funds exist because there’s a gap and there’s risk inherent to that. The structure of this will be a case study to follow. I see it as a pilot and the hope is we continue to grow."

Nick Leonard, village administrator of North Fond du Lac, highlighted that loans offer flexible payback schedules ranging from 48 months up to 10 years. Sonntag commented on making loans accessible: "We were watching entrepreneurs trying to get access to Fond du Lac County loans and it was painful. We wanted to make this very flexible and appealing to entrepreneurs. As administrators in the community, we are engaged with these people and understand their ideas. Why are we treating this like they want millions when they just need $10,000?"

So far three loans have been issued through the program—all going to women-owned businesses—and interest has come from each participating community.

Sonntag views this initiative as just one example of future collaborations among these communities: "Beyond this program, we’ve formed relationships where we can discuss other things," he said. "It’s finding each other’s strengths and bringing them to the table to further the reach of what we could do by ourselves." They are currently exploring additional partnerships such as ambulance service.

Lyman emphasized collaboration as central: "The real heart of this program is that collaborative spirit," she said. She also pointed out another upcoming initiative—IGNITE Rural—a business accelerator designed for solopreneurs in Waupun and throughout Fond du Lac County offered by IGNITE Small Business & Startup Success under Envision Greater Fond du Lac.