Members of the City of Madison Common Council to Visit Local Small Businesses to See First-hand the Impact of City Funding

In celebration of National Small Business Week (April 28-May 4), members of the Common Council will embark on a familiarization (FAM) tour across the city of Madison. The Office of the Common Council, in collaboration with the Office of Business Resources and Metro Transit, has planned a tour for alders to explore the vibrant small business scene in our city and see first-hand the impact of the resources offered by the Office of Business Resources.

On Saturday, May 4, members of the Common Council will board one of the new all-electric buses to visit several small businesses that have benefitted from the various programs offered by the City of Madison’s Office of Business Resources. Alders will have the opportunity to meet local entrepreneurs and learn more about the challenges they face as small business owners and ways they can support the small business community.

"What better way to celebrate Small Business Week than by going out into the community to visit locally owned small businesses? I'm excited to learn more about the impact of the City's grant programs on these businesses," District 17 Alder Sabrina Madison said.

Alders will visit seven small businesses in six different districts across Madison. The businesses represent the diversity of Madison’s small business community, not just in ownership but also in terms of size and industry. Alders Sabrina Madison and Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, who also served on the Small Business FAM Tour planning committee, will host as emcees on the bus along with local artist and entrepreneur Rob Dz. 

"Small business is the backbone of Madison. Over the last several years, the owners of the businesses that serve us and our neighbors have had a hard time. It is vital that we share the stories of the entrepreneurs that make our city so vibrant and support them as they continue to grow," District 15 Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford said.

The City of Madison’s Office of Business Resources offers several programs to local businesses, including the Commercial Ownership Assistance Program, the Façade Grant Program, the KIVA Madison 0% interest crowd-funded loan program, the Healthy Retail Access Program, Tax Increment Financing (also known as TIF), the Small Cap TIF Loan Program, the Cooperative Business Enterprise Program, the EPA Brownfield Grant Program, and other City-sponsored small business loan programs. You can learn more about the programs offered by the Office of Business Resources here.

The Small Business FAM Tour will kick off at the Madison Municipal Building, with a welcome by Deputy Mayor Linda Vakunta. The bus will leave no later than 10:15 a.m. and will end in front of the Madison Municipal Building at 4 p.m. See the full schedule below.

For inquiries or additional information, please contact Lorissa Bañuelos, Community Engagement Strategist of the City of Madison Common Council by email at lbanuelos@cityofmadison.com or by phone (608) 332-8229, or Jaymes Langrehr, Public Information Officer, City of Madison Dept. Of Planning, Community & Economic Development by email jlangrehr@cityofmadison.com or by phone (608) 720-0810.

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About the Madison Common Council

The Common Council’s mission is to represent the residents of Madison by promoting the safety, health, and general well-being of the community, by incorporating the following city core values: Equity, Civic Engagement, Well-Being, Shared Prosperity, and Stewardship. For additional information about the Madison Common Council, please visit: www.cityofmadison.com/council.