SWCAP, Cinnaire, & Partners Celebrate Grand Opening for The Meadows in Darlington
Cinnaire recently joined its partners at Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program (SWCAP) and Wisconsin Management Company to celebrate the grand opening for The Meadows, a 32-unit new construction affordable housing community in Darlington, Wis., designed exclusively to support agriculture and farmworkers and their families. Cinnaire provided a $4.1 million Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) investment and a $260,300 predevelopment loan to support the project. Cinnaire Solutions, the in-house development affiliate of Cinnaire, partnered with SWCAP to co-develop The Meadows.
“Farmworkers are a significant part of Wisconsin’s economy and fill an important role in rural communities in the Badger State. Lafayette County is home to a booming agricultural industry that provides more than half of the jobs in the community,” said Nicole Solheim, Cinnaire Solutions vice president, development. “Affordable housing is a cornerstone of healthy, thriving communities, creating positive impact for families, and supporting the local economy. We’re proud to join the many public and private partners that came together to bring high-quality, affordable housing to support Wisconsin farmworkers and their families.”
The Meadows features 32 two- and three-bedroom units in two townhouse style buildings. Key funding partners include USDA Rural Development, the Wisconsin Housing and Economic. Development Authority (WHEDA), Cinnaire, The Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago), UMOS, and the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
Following the ribbon cutting, Cinnaire Solutions and SWCAP hosted a tour for event speakers including Kathy Blumenfeld, WI Department of Administration secretary; Julie Lassa, USDA RD WI director; and Jeff Towne, WHEDA Community and Economic Development Officer.
“Affordable housing is vitally important to the quality of life for everyone in our state including agricultural workers and their families,” said USDA RD Director Lassa. “As Lafayette County is one of Wisconsin’s leading agricultural counties there is a great need for this type of workforce housing. The partnership with Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program and Cinnaire Solutions will help address the need for affordable, quality housing to support agricultural workers and their families in the community. USDA Rural Development, under the Biden-Harris Administration, is proud to be part of this project.”
“The Meadows not only provides decent, affordable housing for farmworkers and their families, but also supports local farm owners in their efforts to recruit and retain employees to keep our local agricultural economy thriving,” said Wally Orzechowski, SWCAP executive director. “This celebration is the result of a lot of effort from our public and private partners, and we’re grateful for their commitment to making our vision for The Meadows a reality.”
SWCAP works to mitigate the cause and conditions of poverty in Southwestern Wisconsin, building resilience and self-sufficiency by providing supportive services and programs. The Meadows on-site community building offers services through SWCAP’s Multicultural Outreach program, including English language skills and assistance with healthcare, legal issues, and access to employment.
