MEDC

What MEDC does

MEDC (Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation) is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 1971 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It provides gap financing to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the seven-county Milwaukee 7 region, focusing on job creation and retention in underserved neighborhoods, minority-owned businesses (close to 50% of annual loan investments), and women-owned companies (more than one-third of total loans). Since founding, MEDC has funded close to 1,400 loans totaling more than $549 million, generating over $2 billion in total project investment.

MEDC's core product is its lending platform, which provides business loans typically ranging from $100,000 to $750,000, with catalytic project financing available for $2.5 million to $15 million transactions. MEDC does not develop proprietary technology; instead, it operates as a relationship-driven lender using a co-lending structure — typically 50% bank first mortgage, 40% MEDC secondary position, 10% borrower equity — alongside an extensive network of bank and credit-union partners (Park Bank, Waukesha State Bank, Tri City National Bank, Spring Bank, BMO, Johnson Bank, and others). It supplements direct lending with the Capital Access Program (CAP), a loan-loss reserve program that enables enrolled partner lenders to extend credit to higher-risk borrowers.

MEDC generates revenue primarily through interest income on its loan portfolio (which has grown to over $100 million) and transaction-based fees from its Capital Access Program. It holds multiple federal designations — CDFI, SBA Community Advantage Lender, EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance RLF Operator, and Community Development Block Grant Operator — that provide access to specialized federal funding sources. The organization is led by President David E. Latona with a small team of 15–20 employees organized into lending, administration and operations functions, and operates without external private-equity ownership.

Name

MEDC

Legal name

MEDC

Website

https://medconline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MEDC is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution founded in 1971 that provides gap financing and loan-loss reserve programs to small and medium-sized businesses in the seven-county Milwaukee region, with a focus on minority-owned, women-owned, and underserved-community borrowers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Lending

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

Microenterprise Group Lending (Joint Liability) (FSAKAGAH)

Keywords

• Community development lending
• Small business financing
• Gap financing loans
• CDFI loan fund
• Capital access program

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Interest Income on Loans: MEDC generates revenue primarily through interest income on its loan portfolio. As a CDFI, it provides loans at or below market interest rates, targeting job creation and retention in underserved communities. The loan fund has grown to over $100 million, allowing increased lending capacity.
2. Capital Access Program (CAP) Fees: MEDC operates a loan loss reserve program where lenders and borrowers contribute to a reserve fund, which MEDC matches. Enrollment fees are collected from participating lenders, with matching contributions from MEDC creating a sustainable program revenue stream.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MEDC is a non-profit Community Development Financial Institution that provides flexible, below-market-rate business financing (typically $100,000–$750,000, with catalytic projects from $2.5 million to $15 million) to small and medium-sized businesses in the Milwaukee 7 region that cannot fully qualify for conventional bank loans. MEDC partners with banks and credit unions as a secondary-position co-lender and operates the Capital Access Program, a statewide loan loss reserve program enabling partner lenders to extend financing to higher-risk borrowers.

Product overview

MEDC operates as a single unified lending platform offering business financing solutions in southeastern Wisconsin. The core product is MEDC Lending Solutions, which provides gap financing in partnership with banks and credit unions to businesses in the Milwaukee 7 region. Loan amounts typically range from $100,000 to $750,000, with catalytic projects reaching $2.5 million to $15 million. The Capital Access Program (CAP) serves as an add-on module—a loan loss reserve program that enables lenders to extend financing to higher-risk borrowers that may not qualify for conventional lending. A loan information request form serves as an intake mechanism connecting borrowers with MEDC Relationship Managers. MEDC does not offer technology products; all offerings are financial services focused on job creation, retention, and supporting underserved communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MEDC Lending Solutions Gap financing for small and medium-sized businesses in the Milwaukee 7 region (Milwaukee, Kenosha, Racine, Ozaukee, Walworth, Waukesha, and Washington Counties). Standard loans range from $100,000 to $750,000 with 1–7 year terms, below-market interest rates, no prepayment penalties, and no application fees. Catalytic project financing ranges from $2.5 million to $15 million. Typical structure is 50% bank first mortgage, 40% MEDC in secondary position, 10% borrower equity. Used for business acquisition, expansion, real estate purchase, equipment acquisition, leasehold improvements, and new construction.
• Capital Access Program (CAP) A statewide loan loss reserve program for enrolled community banks, credit unions, and non-profit lenders. Eligible for loans from $1,000 to $250,000. Reserve amount is 3%–7% split between borrower and lender, with MEDC matching 4% for loans up to $75,000, 3% for $75,000–$150,000, 2% for over $150,000, and up to 150% match for targeted loans up to a $5,000 maximum. Protects participating lenders against loan losses when financing higher-risk borrowers.
• MEDC Loan Information Form Online intake form that allows prospective borrowers to submit loan information requests and be contacted by a MEDC Relationship Manager, who then helps identify appropriate financing options for the business needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $2 billion in total project investment generated since 1971
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWWBIC is a non-profit lender participating in MEDC's Capital Access Program. WWBIC makes loans to small and micro businesses up to $100,000, providing financing options for underserved entrepreneurs in the Milwaukee area.
• First Citizens WhitewatercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFirst Citizens Whitewater is a banking partner enrolled in MEDC's Capital Access Program, providing loans to businesses through the loan loss reserve program.
• Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHmong Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce participates in MEDC's Capital Access Program, offering financing options to minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.
• Northwest Side Community Development CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity development organization enrolled in MEDC's Capital Access Program providing financing to businesses in northwest Milwaukee communities.
• One Community BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommunity bank participating in MEDC's Capital Access Program for loan loss reserve protection on loans to qualifying businesses.
• Peoples State BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBanking partner enrolled in MEDC's Capital Access Program, utilizing the loan loss reserve program for business loans.
• Regional Business FundcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-profit lender partner participating in MEDC's Capital Access Program to provide financing options to businesses.
• Waukesha State BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBanking partner enrolled in MEDC's Capital Access Program providing loans with loan loss reserve protection to qualifying businesses.
• SBA (Small Business Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEDC is an SBA Community Advantage Lender, enabling it to participate in SBA-backed lending programs for small businesses that may not qualify for conventional financing.
• EDA (Economic Development Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEDC operates as an EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Operator, providing access to federal economic development financing programs.
• CDFI FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEDC is a certified Community Development Financial Institution through the CDFI Fund, enabling access to specialized federal funding and demonstrating commitment to economically distressed markets.
• Hmong Wisconsin Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber partner also provided funding alongside MEDC for Fred's Frozen Custard & Grill acquisition, demonstrating multi-partner financing approach.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Justine PETERSEN: Justine PETERSEN is a St. Louis-based non-profit CDFI offering small business loans, housing counseling, and credit-building services to underserved clients in the Midwest. It is a directly comparable peer given similar CDFI model, microenterprise focus, and federal funding mix (CDFI Fund, EDA, HUD).
• Regional Business Fund: Regional Business Fund is a Wisconsin-based non-profit lender participating in MEDC's Capital Access Program, providing financing to small and micro businesses in the region. It is a directly comparable CDFI peer and is explicitly named as a partner in MEDC's data.
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC): WWBIC is a Wisconsin-based non-profit CDFI and direct MEDC partner in the Capital Access Program, providing micro and small business loans to women entrepreneurs and underserved communities statewide. It is a directly comparable CDFI peer and is explicitly named as a partner in MEDC's data.
• Accion: Accion (now Accion Opportunity Fund) is a national non-profit CDFI providing small business loans, advisory, and capital to underserved entrepreneurs across the U.S. It is a direct peer to MEDC due to overlapping product (micro and small business loans), shared regulatory status as a CDFI, and similar reliance on community partnerships and bank co-lending.
• LiftFund: LiftFund is a non-profit CDFI providing small business and microenterprise loans to underserved entrepreneurs across Texas and the Southwest. It is a directly comparable peer to MEDC given its identical CDFI model, mission-driven lending focus, and reliance on SBA, EDA, and CDFI Fund capital to support below-market-rate small business financing.

Broad incumbents

• The Reinvestment Fund: The Reinvestment Fund (formerly IFF) is a national CDFI providing flexible capital, real estate financing, and policy research to underserved communities. It overlaps with MEDC's catalytic project lending (especially real estate-backed community development) but operates at significantly larger geographic and capital scale.
• Capital Impact Partners: Capital Impact Partners is a national non-profit CDFI providing loans, equity, and capacity-building to support underserved communities in health care, education, and economic development. It is a broad-incumbent peer to MEDC given overlapping community development mission and CDFI-funded lending, though at a national scale and with broader product scope.
• Self-Help Credit Union: Self-Help Credit Union is a CDFI-certified credit union serving low-income and underserved communities across multiple states with deposits, mortgage, and small business lending. It is comparable to MEDC as a broader CDFI incumbent with overlapping small business lending and community development mission, though it operates with deposit funding rather than a pure loan-fund model.

Emerging players

• Kiva: Kiva is a non-profit microfinance platform enabling crowdfunded 0% interest loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs, including in the U.S. It overlaps with MEDC on microenterprise/mission-driven lending but operates a digital crowdfunding model rather than a balance-sheet CDFI structure.
• Grameen America: Grameen America is a non-profit microfinance organization providing small business loans to low-income women entrepreneurs, primarily in immigrant communities. It overlaps with MEDC's microenterprise focus and women-borrower mission but uses a group-lending model with a different underwriting methodology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/medcwisconsin
• Facebookfacebook.com/MEDCWisconsin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/milwaukee-economic-development.-corp.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MEDC