MILWAUKEE — JPMorgan Chase & Co. has awarded The Water Council a $230,000 grant for the second year, according to a press release.
The funds are part of JPMorgan’s Small Business Forward initiative, noted the release. The national effort is a five-year, $30 million grant program aimed at supporting small businesses.
The grant allows The Water Council to “expand its efforts to connect water technology companies with investment capital through specialized training for angel investors [and] programming to connect corporation innovation departments with startups,” reported the release. “[In addition, it] will introduce the first Water Venture Investment Conference at the Water Environment Federation’s Annual Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) in Chicago.”
In the release, Chase President James R. Popp highlighted the importance of small business to finding solutions to the world’s freshwater challenges.
“Southeast Wisconsin has found its economic niche in water technology, and The Water Council is at the forefront of bringing that vision to fruition,” said Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker in the release. “Through the contributions of private sector companies such as JPMorgan Chase, combined with investments from Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), The Water Council has proven to be an excellent example of the accomplishments possible through public/private partnerships.”
The funding will help to advance The Water Council’s goal of becoming the center of freshwater research, innovation, education and business development, stated the release.
