Four local organizations have been awarded grant money in the first round of Entrepreneurship Partner Grants from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), the organization announced recently.

According to a release, the local grant recipients are Food Finance Institute ($180,000), Collaboration For Good ($150,000), Forward BIOLABS ($93,600) and Leading Change ($175,000).

“These organizations provide the training and resources that allow innovators all across Wisconsin to launch their own business and thrive,” WEDC CEO Missy Hughes said in a statement. “Good ideas can come from anywhere so we have to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to turn their ideas into a business.”

The Entrepreneurship Partner Grants are designed for organizations working to provide training, financing, mentorship, technical support and more to entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs, especially those who historically have not had equal access to capital and resources including women, people of color, the LGBTQ community and rural residents.