Milwaukee, Wis., March 21, 2016 – Exterior home improvement grants are available to residents of three Milwaukee neighborhoods through a partnership among the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Wells Fargo and the City of Milwaukee.

Qualified homeowners in Capitol Heights, Havenwoods and Lincoln Village neighborhoods can apply for matching grants up to $3,000 through the Healthy Neighborhoods Minor Home Improvement Pilot Program. The minimum allowable project is $800, and homeowners are required to contribute at least 25 percent of the total project cost.

The three eligible neighborhoods are part of the Foundation’s Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, a public-private partnership with the City of Milwaukee investing in the physical conditions, positive image, social connections and stabilization of specific city neighborhoods.

“Providing resources for realistic home improvements helps responsible homeowners enhance their homes, increases home values and gives a boost to the whole neighborhood,” said Darlene Russell, program officer for the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. “We expect this program will help at least 75 homeowners complete a worthwhile project this year.”

Last April, the Foundation matched a $500,000 grant it received from Wells Fargo’s Neighborhood LIFT program to create a $1 million pool of funds to enhance employment and housing opportunities in Milwaukee neighborhoods. Those dollars are now at work in the community. The first series of grants from the funding pool supported youth employment programs last year.

“Helping maintain strong neighborhoods is a key part of Wells Fargo’s commitment to Milwaukee,” said Sang Kim, Wells Fargo region president for Wisconsin. “Our Neighborhood LIFT program is one way we help increase homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods. We’re pleased to join forces with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and the city on this important initiative that will help homeowners make necessary repairs and improvements to their homes. We know our contribution is a small part of the overall effort, yet we hope it will make a big difference to homeowners and the community.”

For this program, the Foundation is providing $150,000 from its co-investment with Wells Fargo while the City of Milwaukee’s Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (NIDC) is contributing an additional $75,000.

“Homeownership is key to strong neighborhoods. We look forward to continuing our work in the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative as well as our partnership with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and Wells Fargo to support committed Milwaukee homeowners and help them make improvements to their homes and neighborhoods,” Mayor Tom Barrett said.

Homeowners interested in applying for a minor home improvement grant can contact the coordinating lead agency in their respective Healthy Neighborhood for information:

  • Capitol Heights – Albright Methodist Church, (414) 459-9099
  • Havenwoods – Havenwoods Economic Development Corporation, (414) 431-2271
  • Lincoln Village – Southside Organizing Committee, (414) 672-8090

The program will run through Dec. 31.

About the Greater Milwaukee Foundation

For more than a century, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation has helped individuals, families and organizations realize their philanthropic goals and make a difference in the community, during their lifetimes and for future generations. The Foundation consists of more than 1,200 individual charitable funds, each created by donors to serve the charitable causes of their choice. The Foundation also deploys both human and financial resources to address the most critical needs of the community and ensure the vitality of the region. Established in 1915, the Foundation was one of the first community foundations in the world and is now among the largest.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,700 locations, 12,800 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

About the Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation

The Neighborhood Improvement Development Corporation (“NIDC”) is a nonprofit corporation established by the City of Milwaukee to promote reinvestment in housing and neighborhood development within the City. It is housed with Milwaukee’s Department of City Development. For over 40 years, NIDC has worked with a broad range of partners (including other City Departments, community-based agencies, financial institutions, residents, developers and the local philanthropic community) to improve Milwaukee’s neighborhoods and the quality of life for Milwaukee’s residents. www.city.milwaukee.gov/nidc

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