Southwest Community Action Program, (SWCAP)
Forward Community Investments provided a loan of $246,000 for the purchase and renovation of a building in Dodgeville that enables more than eight nonprofits to collocate and work more closely in serving clients in Iowa County.
Loan Amount: $246,000 for building acquisition
“Without Forward Community Investments and a willingness to provide non-traditional financing, we would not be able to provide these programs.”– Wally Orzechowski, Southwest Community Action Program
SWCAP has been in operation since 1966. It serves more than 4,400 clients annually, has an annual budget of $4.5 million, employs more than 75 full-time employees and 25 part-time employees, and provides a focal point for anti-poverty efforts in Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette and Richland Counties.
The project enabled new services for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, provided affordable rents to nonprofits, and made client access more convenient.
Organizations that collocate in the building include:
- Community Connections Free Clinic
- Family Resource Center of Iowa County
- Iowa County Job Service
- Southwest Wisconsin Family Advocates
- Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Programs
- Southwest Wisconsin Reproductive Health Care
- Southwest Wisconsin Technical College
- Wisconsin Department of Vocational Rehabilitation
UPDATE: Subsequent to making this loan, SWCAP partnered with Access Community Health Centers, a federally qualified health clinic, to renovate the ground level of the facility. The renovated space houses the expanded Community Connections Free Clinic and four dental chairs that are operated by Access. In late 2011, SWCAP broke ground for a second expansion that will move Access into its own space adjacent to this original facility and add another eight dental operatories for a total of 12. The $1.2 million construction of this expansion is being funded by FCI in partnership with Partners for the Common Good. The building is expected to be completed in late spring 2012 and construction financing will be taken out by a loan from the USDA.
What started as a small nonprofit shared facility in 2007, morphed into free health services and adequate dental coverage for communities in rural Iowa County that, previously, had no access to such services. It is all about partnerships.
Learn more about Southwest Community Action Program, (SWCAP)
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Quotes
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"The workshop definitely helped to increase our awareness of capacity building, and the online self-assessment tool that was presented will be a great asset in making our program more effective.”
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"With affordable financing and a progressive mission that aligns with ours, Forward Community Investments has been a great fit.”
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In addition to providing us with a $60,000 loan for predevelopment expenses, Forward Community Investments facilitated the transfer of more than $5 million in New Market Tax Credits to this project. This access to capital meant that we were able to reach our goal earlier than expected – saving us valuable time and money.”
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"Without Forward Community Investments and a willingness to provide non-traditional financing, we would not be able to provide these programs.”
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“FCI finds ways to finance projects that no others can. I truly believe you are all unique and outstanding.”
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"The predevelopment loan from Forward Community Investments made affordable development possible in times when capital is difficult to find."
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"I think Forward Community Investments is truly a partner because a partner picks up where you leave off. It was fairly straightforward.”
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“Financing from Forward Community Investments allows us to make a greater impact on low-income and no-income families in Wisconsin.”
