Waukesha County GROW Fund Supports Domenica Park Housing Project in the City of Waukesha

Waukesha, Wis. (August 10, 2024) – The Waukesha County GROW Fund is proud to be a financial partner in the Habitat for Humanity Domenica Park housing project in the City of Waukesha. Announced by Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha and Jefferson Counties in 2022, Domenica Park is a previously vacant city block in the Broadway Heights neighborhood of Waukesha. The former site of the century-old Aeroshade factory will be the site of 16 single-family homes and 2 duplex townhomes – future homes for 20 families.

To support the project, the GROW Fund has provided a revolving construction loan to Habitat for Humanity totaling $660,000. This financing will support three home construction projects at a time. Upon the completion of each home, the GROW Fund will be repaid from the new owner’s traditional mortgage proceeds, at which time a new construction project will be initiated to support a future homeowner, designated by Habitat for Humanity.  Additionally, the construction projects will foster continued construction employment and build the tax base of the community in which the housing project is occurring. 

“Affordable housing is a critical element to attracting and retaining workers in Waukesha County, and we’re thrilled to be able to support the growth of Domenica Park,” states Therese Thill, Executive Director for the Waukesha County Center for Growth. “The mission of the Fund is to ignite economic development, foster innovation, and contribute to growth of Waukesha County – so this project is a shining example of how we’re doing just that.”

“Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha and Jefferson Counties is thrilled to partner with the GROW Fund in driving the transformation of Domenica Park. With the generous support of the GROW Fund, we are empowered to combat the challenges posed by high interest rates and inflation, allowing us to create a new chapter of hope and opportunity for families in need,” shared Melissa Songco, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha & Jefferson Counties. “Together, we are building a community that fosters growth and enables families to overcome these obstacles, creating a brighter future for all.”

Established in 2019, the GROW Fund was created to provide access to financial resources to enable business expansion and attraction. The GROW Fund assists businesses essential to the economic development of Waukesha County including manufacturing, service, and other commercial establishments looking to expand operations or invest in new operations in the county. It also benefits developers with projects that improve available housing stock to meet the housing needs of existing and projected workforce growth.

To learn more about the Waukesha County Center for Growth, or the GROW Fund, please visit www.waukeshagrowth.org.

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About the Waukesha County Center for Growth
The Waukesha County Center for Growth, Inc. is Waukesha County’s economic development organization. Created in 2016 by Waukesha County in partnership with the Waukesha County Business Alliance, the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center and local municipalities, the mission for the Center for Growth is to serve as the central point of contact for businesses looking to grow in Waukesha County. The Center for Growth works to ensure each organization doing business in Waukesha County will reach its fullest potential. For more information, please visit www.waukeshagrowth.org.

About Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha & Jefferson Counties

Since 1989, Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha & Jefferson Counties has been the leading provider of affordable homeownership opportunities in Waukesha County and expanded to serve Jefferson County in October 2023. We build affordable homes for families who cannot purchase a home through traditional methods. Through partnerships with volunteers, donors, and the community, Habitat provides safe and decent homes for families in need. Habitat’s mission to build homes, community, and hope, empowers families and creates a world where everyone has a decent place to live. Habitat for Humanity of Waukesha & Jefferson Counties is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Equal Housing Lender. More information is available at habitatwjc.org.