StartingBlock Madison announced today that is has received $475,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Agency for being one of the winners of its i6 Challenge.

“The EDA announcement is an exciting show of support and will help StartingBlock carry out its bold and ambitious dream of strengthening our region by helping Madison’s most promising startups and entrepreneurs succeed,” StartingBlock Madison Executive Director Scott Resnick said in a statement.

According to a release, the i6 Challenge is part of the EDA’s Startup America Initiative, with the winners using the funds to create and expand cluster-focused, proof-of-concept and commercialization programs, and early-stage seed capital funds through the EDA’s Regional Innovation Strategies (RIS) program.

StartingBlock was one of 35 recipients across 19 states that earned grant money, which will be used to support the organization’s programming and operations.

As previously reported, the hub that will house local entrepreneurs looks to break ground at the end of the year with a 13-month construction timeline.