Red Letter Grant hires new program director as program expands

EAU CLAIRE — The team is growing. Last week, Red Letter Grant announced the new hire for its expanded service region — Debbie Elmer. Elmer will be taking the reins as the program grows to serve Barron, Burnett, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn counties. Support from WBD, Inc. has made this hire and expansion possible.

Elmer comes with a background in the arts and as a small business owner herself in the community of Amery, her hometown. Her role will be marketing the program to key stakeholders, building relationships with economic development professionals and administering the grant with a judging panel recruited from the region.

“I’m excited to welcome Debbie to the team as we grow to support more women in business throughout northern Wisconsin. Her lived experiences as a small business owner living in a rural community uniquely sets her up to take on this role of helping other women achieve entrepreneurial success,” said Rebecca Cooke, executive director of the Red Letter Grant.

“As a Wisconsin native, I am eager to network with entrepreneurial women in this rural northwest region of the state and to encourage women to take more risks and use their skills to build businesses as they participate in the Red Letter Grant opportunity. I believe small businesses are keystone to our rural downtowns and to community vitality. With the support and encouragement that Red Letter Grant has built its mission and values, I believe we will play a major role in helping the region and state innovate by supporting these creative, daring and enterprising entrepreneurs,” said Elmer.

The Red Letter Grant is a 501©3 nonprofit organization that aims to support and empower female entrepreneurs — closing the business leadership gap in Wisconsin. Red Letter Grant cultivates mentor-peer networks and awards startup capital to women-owned businesses.