Impact Stories

Challenge The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative is farmer-led co-op working to get local food into the grocery, distributor, institutional, and school market channels. The Food Hub is committed to building a vibrant local and regional food system that supports all levels of the value-chain; farmers, businesses, and consumers. Cash flow challenges in its first year […]

New Markets Tax Credits and innovative FCI-facilitated partnerships help Sojourner Family Peace Center become a groundbreaking national model for serving families affected by domestic violence. Challenge Sojourner Family Peace Center has been helping families affected by domestic violence for 40 years by providing emergency shelter and other services. Sojourner is one of the first facilities

Challenge Pantheon Industries is a leader in employment opportunities for a wide range of qualified individuals with disabilities. For nearly twenty years, they have been matching individuals with positions that will allow them to develop skills to benefit both themselves and the community. Pantheon’s approach is effective, and they have grown to have offices in

Challenge The Great Lakes Community Conservation Corps (Great Lakes CCC) provides job training and education for disadvantaged individuals in southeastern Wisconsin, with programs that address both social and physical challenges in the region. Financing to acquire a clean energy training vehicle enables Great Lakes CCC to provide a multitude of industry-focused training programs, including the

Challenge The Northside Planning Council undertakes an innovative approach to community and economic development with the construction of a new facility that provides multiple kitchen spaces, a produce processing area and a training kitchen. The FEED Kitchens allow area entrepreneurs to avoid the overwhelming start-up costs (renting and renovating a facility and outfitting it with

Diane Beckley Chief Operating Officer, Bucyrus Campus St. Ann Center specializes in adult and child day services in a safe, home-like intergenerational setting, where compassion, care, and dignity are key. We do this by bringing all ages together—from 6 weeks old to 100+. Youngsters learn to respect and socialize with all types of people. And

George Hinton CEO, Social Development Commission For more than 50 years, the Social Development Commission (SDC) has served as a planner, coordinator, and provider of human service programs for low-income individuals and families in Milwaukee County. Our Mission: Empowering Milwaukee County residents with the resources to move beyond poverty. With assistance from Forward Community Investments,

Jill W. Pfeiffer Development Director at Operation Fresh Start Operation Fresh Start (OFS) provides Dane County youth a path to self-sufficiency through education and job training. In Dane County there are over 4,000 disconnected youth, ages 16 – 24. The vast majority of them have not completed high school and many lack the connections and

A small loan enables an agency to provide real-world job skills training to people with disabilities while producing healthy food for the surrounding community. Challenge Opportunity Center in Prairie du Chien, WI is a 50-year-old nonprofit that provides real-work employment opportunities, skill development training and socialization/communication activities to clients with disabilities. The produce and tilapia

Challenge Jo’s is located in the Washington Heights neighborhood in Milwaukee, an area with a 26% poverty rate and an unemployment rate of nearly 10%. Of the 300 children served by Jo’s Early Learning Academy prior to this expansion, nearly all receive assistance through the Wisconsin Shares child care subsidy program. There is a severe