Gov. Evers, Wheda Announce More Than $6.3 Million for Affordable Housing Loan Program Awards

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), today announced over $6.3 million to support five new housing developments that will create 521 workforce housing units in communities across the state. The funding is provided by the Vacancy-to-Vitality, Infrastructure Access, and Restore Main Street loan programs, which were created through bipartisan legislation signed by Gov. Evers and supported by $525 million—the largest state investment in workforce housing in state history—provided by the 2023-25 Biennial Budget signed into law by Gov. Evers. To date, this funding has supported the development of over 1,600 workforce housing units statewide.

“I declared 2025 the Year of the Kid in Wisconsin because I’ve always believed that doing what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state, and expanding access to safe, stable, and affordable housing is a key part of our work to support kids and families, strengthen our communities, and grow our state’s workforce,” said Gov. Evers. “I was proud to secure the largest state investment in workforce housing in our history, and I’m grateful for WHEDA’s diligent work to get these funds out the door to projects that will ensure folks have the quality, affordable housing they and our communities need to grow and thrive.”

This announcement builds on longstanding efforts of the Evers Administration to expand access to safe, reliable, and affordable housing. Since 2019, more than 30,000 housing units have been built to address the needs of Wisconsin’s workforce, seniors, and families statewide.

“We know that affordable housing is challenging to fund and build. These loan programs help communities improve infrastructure, revitalize buildings, and add apartments to the upper floors of retail shops on Main Streets. Each of them brings us closer to having affordable housing for everyone in our state,” said WHEDA Executive Director and CEO Elmer Moore Jr. “These loans matter and get much-needed projects to the finish line to become homes for our teachers, first responders, healthcare workers, and more.”

Vacancy-To-Vitality | $2 Million
Two Madison projects will each receive $1 million to add 270 new workforce units to Dane County. Timberline Terrace will create 93 units, and Volker Fair Oaks 4% will create 177 units. Both projects were also awarded Infrastructure Access loans.

Infrastructure Access | $4.2 Million
Timberline Terrace was also awarded an additional $312,928. Volker Fair Oaks 4% was awarded an additional $896,038. Central at the Forge in Madison was awarded over $2.2 million to add 241 workforce units to Dane County. In Oneida County, Hampton Workforce Housing IAL was awarded $822,683 to create eight rural workforce housing units in Woodruff.

Restore Main Street | $40,000
In Rock County, the 16 E. Main Street project located in Evansville will receive $40,000 to create two rural workforce housing units.

For further details on the application awards, visit WHEDA’s Competitive Loan Financing Products page here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.