Forward Community Investments (FCI) has allocated $13 million in New Markets Tax Credits to support construction of a new Boys & Girls Club of Janesville facility, the Madison-based community development financial institution announced in a press release Tuesday.
The 35,500-square-foot building is being constructed on a remediated Brownfield site and is expected to triple the club’s daily capacity, allowing it to serve more than 230 children and teens every day. Plans include a playground, teen center with a demonstration kitchen, commercial kitchen, outdoor recreation space, and specialized classrooms.
Ryan Zerwer, president and CEO of FCI, said in a written statement that the club “plays an essential role in supporting youth and families. This new facility will ensure more children have access to safe, affordable, and high-quality care while also creating jobs and strengthening the community.”
According to FCI, the project will:
- Expand youth programming from 80 children daily to more than 200.
- Provide 180 childcare slots, with the majority filled by low-income families.
- Offer about 82,800 meals annually through a new commercial kitchen.
- Create three permanent jobs, retain 10, and generate more than 35 construction jobs.
Rebecca Veium, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Janesville, said in a written statement that the investment “will significantly strengthen our capacity to deliver safe, enriching, and transformative programs for the youth who rely on us most.”
The $13 million in tax credits builds on more than $8 million in local fundraising, including contributions from Prent Corporation/GOEX ($2 million), the City of Janesville ($750,000), the state’s Non-State Grant program ($1.75 million), and a $500,000 Congressionally Directed Award with support from Sen. Tammy Baldwin. U.S. Bank is serving as the tax credit investor, and Johnson Bank provided construction financing.
“The city, local businesses, donors, and federal resources all came together to ensure this project will serve Janesville’s youth and families for decades to come,” FCI Chief Operating Officer Rob Beach said in a statement.
The Boys & Girls Club of Janesville currently serves 282 youth annually, 76 percent of whom are from low-income families, and has a waitlist of more than 100 children. The new facility aims to help meet that demand.
