MISSION
Forward Community Investments is a community development financial institution (CDFI) providing low-cost, flexible financing to nonprofits engaged in the development of affordable housing, community services and facilities and the promotion of economic development initiatives in low- and moderate-wealth neighborhoods for community residents and special needs individuals.

HOW IT WORKS
Individuals and institutional investors concerned about the social dividend of their investments place funds in Forward Community Investments at or below-market rates, creating a pool of loan capital dedicated to improving the lives of people disinvested from the community-at-large. Forward Community Investments, in turn, re-lends this capital at low-interest rates to nonprofits to facilitate their projects. Investors give, nonprofits borrow and our communities grow.

LENDING ACTIVITY
Forward Community Investments has provided more than $3.9 million in loans to nonprofit borrowers. In fact, Forward Community Investments' loans have created and sustained more than 300 units of affordable housing and have affected approximately 18,000 low-wealth individuals. Some examples of Forward Community Investments' financing include:

• $125,000 to Common Wealth Development for the purchase of property along the Yahara River Parkway for the creation of 50 units of mixed income housing. The Forward Community Investments loan allowed Common Wealth Development to land bank the property while giving them time to raise additional funds needed to complete the project. At least 11 housing units are affordable to lower-income people (25% to 50% CMI), and 35 housing units are affordable to moderate-income people (50% to 80% CMI). In addition, there are nine fully barrier-free, wheelchair accessible units. This project is the cornerstone to the future development of the Yahara River Parkway area.



• $58,700 to Madison Area Rehabilitation Center to furnish and equip a rural community rehabilitation facility for clients with developmental disabilities. The facility provides day services and jobs to 95 adults with developmental disabilities who are generally very low-income and in need of day-time support to remain living in their communities.



• $150,000 to Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development to fund pre-development expenses and $197,500 to fund construction costs for the Uplands, a 143-unit affordable/mixed-income housing development project in Sun Prairie. The development is in collaboration with the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin and Movin' Out, Inc. About half of the 143 units will be affordable to people whose income levels are at or below the county median income. The Uplands incorporates new urbanism design concepts, such as narrower streets with sidewalks, rear-entry garages, front porches, smaller, low-maintenance yards, and walking and biking paths that will help build a strong neighborhood.