The following examples provide insight on the types of housing and community development projects assisted with CDBG/HOME within the Dane County Consortium communities.
DAIS was awarded CDBG funds to assist in the construction of a new emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence in Dane County. The previous emergency shelter, which was one of the smallest of its kind in the State, was severely overcrowded and contained substandard facilities. CDBG funding allowed the construction of a new facility which more than doubled the number of shelter beds and provided adequate space for staff, volunteers, and program activities for domestic violence victims and their children.
Independent Living is a local non-profit multi-service organization that serves adults by helping manage their independence at home. CDBG funds were awarded to Independent Living’s Home Modification program, which provides housing modifications to improve safety and accessibility for low- and moderate-income elderly and disabled clients who experience financial difficulty and who live in owner-occupied housing. Since 2007, the CDBG program has assisted more than one hundred senior and disabled households throughout Dane County by supporting the Home Modification program in the installation and renovation of a range of home accessibility structures and adaptation services.
In 2012 the Village of Brooklyn was awarded CDBG funds to create an industrial park (Brooklyn Business Park) that will help the Village create a stable local economy and drive long-term economic vitality for the area. CDBG funds were used for the acquisition of the land and water/sewer improvements to the site. The Village expects to accommodate local business expansion and new businesses from outside the region, which in turn will create new jobs and expand the local tax base.
CDBG funds may be used to stimulate economic development activities by assisting the private sector to create or retain jobs for low and moderate income persons. The WWBIC South Central regional office serves emerging and existing small business owners by providing quality business education, one-on-one business assistance, direct loans, and access to other capital, financial awareness, and asset-building programming. CDBG funds were awarded to assist WWBIC in providing technical assistance to individuals developing microenterprises in Dane County. The funds were critical to assist WWBIC in identifying potential microenterprise owners and providing quality, comprehensive microenterprise services through WWBIC’s Microenterprise Development Continuum. CDBG funds were used to leverage other federal (Dane County Revolving Loan Funds) and non-federal funding sources. In 2011 WWBIC, with the help of CDBG funding, assisted 13 Dane County businesses who created or retained 20 jobs.
Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDOs) are private, non-profit organizations that meet a series of prescribed qualifications to undertake HOME activities. Federal regulations require 15% of HOME funds received annually must be set-aside for CHDOs. Movin’ Out, Inc. is a local CHDO that provides a variety of programs for people with disabilities including the development and management of affordable rental housing. Movin’ Out partnered with Dane County and other lenders and development partners to demolish a vacant grocery store in Middleton, WI and construct a 43 unit affordable multi-family senior housing complex. The $15.3 million project used $440,639 in HOME funds along with a first mortgage, a bridge loan, Section 42 tax credits, and tax increments financing (TIF) from the City of Middleton. Of the 43 apartments constructed, 9 were HOME assisted.
