WBDC’s Ignite Grant Program for Women Entrepreneurs Now Accepting Applications

STAMFORD, Conn. — The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is now accepting applications from women-owned businesses for its Ignite grant program — which offers grants of up to $10,000 to qualified Connecticut businesses. Originally launched in 2020 as the Equity Match Grant, this program has awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to 276 businesses in every county of the state.

The application window runs from February 1 through March 14.

“We are proud to once again offer this incredible opportunity for Connecticut’s women-owned businesses to access resources that have a proven track record of fostering growth and creating jobs,” said WBDC CEO Fran Pastore. “ The name Ignite is a reflection of this program’s core objective — to fuel the growth of women-owned businesses and our state’s economy.”

WBDC is inviting all women entrepreneurs to learn about how they can access the program and discover the impact these grants have had on so many Connecticut businesses. A survey of past grant recipients who received funding at least 12 months ago:

• 72% have increased revenues

• 61% have increased profits

• 43% have hired at least one employee

• 28 grant recipients have secured additional capital infusions totaling over $2.3 million

• 165 jobs have been created across 104 companies

About Ignite and Eligibility

Ignite makes available grants of between $2,500 and $10,000 to be awarded for clearly defined projects that will have a measurable impact on the business, its growth, and profitability.

To be eligible, a business must meet the following criteria:

• 51% or more woman-owned.

• Headquartered in Connecticut, registered in the state of Connecticut, and owned by a Connecticut resident.

• In business for at least two years before March 14th, 2024 (business must have been established by March 14th, 2022) with a record of sales.

• A record of annual sales/revenue in the last twelve months greater than $25,000 and less than $2,000,000.

• In good standing with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS)

• An established business checking account

• A formal, digital bookkeeping/financial system (e.g. QuickBooks, Sage, FreshBooks, Wave Accounting)

• A for-profit business.

• Owned by a woman at least 18 years old.

• Invested at least $2,500 into the business in the last 12 months — unless the business is located in a distressed municipality

For more information and eligibility criteria, as well as a schedule of upcoming information sessions, visit ctwbdc.org/ignite. 

About the Women’s Business Development Council

The Women’s Business Development Council’s (WBDC) mission is to support economic prosperity for women and strengthen communities through entrepreneurial and financial education services that create and grow sustainable jobs and businesses across Connecticut. WBDC educates, motivates, and empowers women to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency. Since 1997, WBDC has educated and trained more than 18,800 clients in all of Connecticut’s 169 towns—helping women to launch, sustain and scale over 14,000 businesses, create and maintain more than 31,400 jobs in Connecticut, and access more than $57 million in capital. Visit ctwbdc.org for more information.