Forward Community Investments

For Thanksgiving, FCI wants to express our heartfelt gratitude to our incredible community! This month's blog post highlights our appreciation to our partners, borrowers, investors, and other supporters who make our work at Forward Community Investments possible. https://lnkd.in/gMbtQm92 Your unwavering dedication to creating positive change and building a more equitable, sustainable future inspires us daily. Together, we’ve made meaningful strides toward empowering communities, strengthening local economies, and advancing social justice. Thank you for your trust, collaboration, and commitment to our shared vision. We are truly thankful for every one of you! Wishing you all a warm and joyful Thanksgiving filled with love, gratitude, and reflection. #Thanksgiving #Gratitude #Community #Supporters #Partners #Investors #ForwardCommunityInvestments #GivingThanks #TogetherWeThrive

Exciting News! Join us in welcoming Eric Mazelis to the Forward Community Investments team! We’re thrilled to have Eric join us as a Senior Community Lender, where he’ll focus on loan originations statewide and help grow FCI’s small business lending program. Eric brings an impressive and diverse background in community economic development, including: - Small business lending at Accion Chicago (now Allies for Community Business) - Business relationship management at Chase Bank - Municipal economic development for Oak Park, IL - New Markets Tax Credit work at Broadstreet Impact Services Eric earned his B.B.A. in Finance with a double major in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame. Now residing in Shorewood with his wife, son, and cat, he enjoys running, traveling, and exploring thought-provoking podcasts in his free time. We’re excited about the expertise, passion, and energy Eric brings to FCI as we continue to empower communities across Wisconsin. Welcome to the team, Eric! #ForwardTogether #CommunityLending #SmallBusinessDevelopment #WelcomeToTheTeam

Another successful event filled with inspiration and innovation at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) Economic 2024 Conference! FCI team members Ryan Zerwer, Fausto E. Rivera, and Portia Adney had the privilege of attending this year’s WHEDA conference, where we connected with industry leaders and change-makers driving transformative projects across Wisconsin. Together, we’re working toward a shared vision: making housing more affordable and our communities more vibrant. This annual event is more than a gathering—it’s a dynamic platform for collaboration, innovation, and actionable change. The conference fosters powerful conversations that fuel progress, from discussions on affordable housing and economic inclusion to strategies for building sustainable communities.? A highlight of the event was the inspiring keynote by Arlo Washington, Oscar nominee for the short documentary The Barber of Little Rock, who spoke about his experience as a Barber turned President/ CEO of his own CDFI, PEOPLE TRUST Community Loan Fund. He shared a profound message: “I am just a nobody who did something that anybody can do…it takes collaboration, not competition, to solve common problems.” His story is a testament to the impact of determination, community, and the critical role CDFIs play in creating economic opportunities for all. The conversations happening at this conference are crucial for shaping the future of housing and economic development in Wisconsin. At FCI, we remain steadfast in our commitment to supporting initiatives that drive meaningful change. We’re excited to continue building partnerships and exploring solutions that strengthen Wisconsin’s housing and economic landscape.?? #WHEDA2024 #AffordableHousing #EconomicDevelopment #CommunityImpact #Sustainability #ForwardCommunityInvestments #BuildingStrongerCommunities

Sponsorship Highlight: FCI is proud to have sponsored the Wisconsin Indigenous Housing and Economic Development Corporation Inc. (WIHEDC) Conference, held on November 7th-8th. This conference focused on critical topics like tribal housing initiatives, clean energy solutions, and the economic impact of these efforts. With a shared vision of fostering sustainable growth and empowering Native communities, we’re excited to support conversations that drive positive change. Key highlights include innovations in tribal housing to ensure safe, affordable homes for Native families, clean energy initiatives paving the way for a greener, more resilient future, and a comprehensive economic impact study that underscores the power of Native-led solutions. Together, we are helping build a brighter, more sustainable future for Wisconsin’s Indigenous communities. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this robust dialogue! #TribalHousing #EconomicDevelopment #CleanEnergy #IndigenousLeadership #Sustainability #ForwardCommunityInvestments #WisconsinIndigenousHousing #CommunityImpact

Sponsorship Highlight: FCI is proud to have sponsored the Wisconsin Indigenous Housing & Economic Development Corporation’s Housing and Economic Development Conference, held on November 7th-8th. This conference focused on critical topics like tribal housing initiatives, clean energy solutions, and the economic impact of these efforts. With a shared vision of fostering sustainable growth and empowering Native communities, we’re excited to support conversations that drive positive change. Key highlights: Innovations in tribal housing to ensure safe, affordable homes for Native families; Clean energy initiatives paving the way for a greener, more resilient future; and a comprehensive economic impact study that underscores the power of Native-led solutions. Together, we are helping build a brighter, more sustainable future for Wisconsin’s Indigenous communities. Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to this robust dialogue! #TribalHousing #EconomicDevelopment #CleanEnergy #IndigenousLeadership #Sustainability #ForwardCommunityInvestments #WisconsinIndigenousHousing #CommunityImpact

Today, on Veterans Day, we proudly honor and celebrate the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families. At Forward Community Investments, we're committed to supporting nonprofit organizations and community facilities, such as Center For Veterans Issues, Inc. (CVI), where we had the opportunity to support the expansion of their administrative offices with our NMTC loan pool program. For over 30 years, CVI has provided resources, housing assistance, and other support means to veterans in need. After many years of trying to work through several efforts and institutions, the Center was founded to provide a consistent, professional, effective, and replicable means of moving beyond the advocacy and addressing problems harming low-income veteran and their families." Click on the link below to learn more about CVI and its services. Thank you to all the brave men and women who have served our country. Your strength, dedication, and courage inspire us every day. https://www.cvivet.org/ #VeteransDay #SupportingVeterans #Gratitude #communitycare

“Our love will change the world.” Today, we’re proud to spotlight our NMTC partner, One City Schools, and their powerful challenge to ask, What if? What if Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. never gave his iconic I Have a Dream speech? What if Dennis Banks and Clyde Bellecourt hadn’t met to form the American Indian Movement? What if young Ruby Bridges hadn’t bravely integrated into an all-white school? These individuals redefined courage, paving the way for collective progress and the pursuit of the American dream. At Forward Community Investments (FCI), we share this passion for building a better future, alongside the dedicated staff, teachers, and families at One City Schools. Every day, we strive to advance educational and financial equity and create pathways toward sustainable prosperity. It’s our shared love for this mission that drives meaningful change in our communities. Together, let’s keep moving forward. Check out their inspiring music video: https://lnkd.in/gbm8ffMz #CommunityImpact #EducationalEquity #PartnershipsForProgress #SustainableProsperity #ForwardTogether

This November, we proudly honor Indigenous People’s Month by celebrating the resilience, culture, and achievements of Native communities. At Forward Community Investments (FCI), our commitment lies in partnerships that drive equity and create lasting change. We are excited to highlight our New Market Tax Credit investment with the Lac Courte Oreilles Community Health Center. This vital impact investment enables the center to serve over 77,400 patients annually, reducing long wait times and the need for extended travel to receive care; it created 42 construction jobs and 121 permanent jobs. The new facility expands patient capacity, enhances operational efficiency, enriches the patient experience, and strengthens connectivity between on-site services. This collaboration represents more than just funding—it’s a meaningful step towards improving healthcare access and empowering the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Together, we’re building a future where community health and prosperity go hand in hand. #IndigenousPeoplesMonth #CommunityInvestment #HealthcareAccess #Empowerment #PartnershipsForChange

As we consider the impact of today's presidential election, it's crucial to remember that our voices have the collective power to shape the future. Your voice matters. Your vote matters. We encourage everyone in our community to plan to vote today if they can. To look up your WI polling place and for other vital information about today's election, visit https://lnkd.in/d557WKt #Vote2024 #CDFIs #CommunityDevelopment #Empowerment #YourVoiceMatters

FCI hopes our community members and partners had a very Happy Halloween! Did you know? Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic tradition of Samhain, which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter. In the U.S., as European immigrant traditions blended with Native American traditions, the uniquely American form of Halloween was born and became widespread with the influx of Irish immigrants in the later part of the 19th Century. Today, in the spirit of Halloween festivities and creativity, we are highlighting one of our many incredible borrowers, Above The Clouds Milwaukee. Above the Clouds is celebrating 23 years of impact by empowering children and families in the Milwaukee area through the power of arts. They offer free, year-long arts and education programs for children 5-17, with the mission of creating a sanctuary where kids can explore the arts without barriers in a vibrant and creative space. FCI's flexible financing helps organizations like Above the Clouds to catalyze their work and extend their reach. Together, we’re committed to fostering creativity and enriching our community's experiences. We believe that the arts have the power to inspire and unite us all. Check out our websites to learn more about Above the Clouds, https://lnkd.in/gxDCE62P, and FCI at www.forwardci.org to learn more about our products, services, and impact investment opportunities! #CommunityArts #AboveTheCloudsMilwaukee #FCI #Halloween