Northwest Side Community Development Corporation

What Northwest Side Community Development Corporation does

Northwest Side Community Development Corporation (NWSCDC) is a Milwaukee-based non-profit Community Development Financial Institution founded in 1983 that delivers small business lending, technical assistance, business planning, and community development services to underserved entrepreneurs, child care providers, and residents on Milwaukee's Northwest Side. Core service lines include Business Technical Support, a Business Lending program, and Economic Development Programs (workshops, financial literacy, business sustainability). Major initiatives include Green Tech Station, a green infrastructure demonstration and environmental education site featuring solar panels, test cells, and the 30th Street Industrial Corridor's first WaterMarker; the MMSD West Basin stormwater management and community amenity project; and Soul Roll MKE, a bicycling movement and trail development initiative. Recurring community events include the annual Promise Zone Bike Ride, Pop-up Farmers Markets, and Family Skate Night.

NWSCDC operates as a CDFI funded primarily by federal grants from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's CDFI Fund, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and the HHS Office of Community Services, supplemented by corporate philanthropy (including a $5 million Northwestern Mutual deployment across NWSCDC and a peer institution) and individual donations. The lending program disbursed over $1.75 million across eight small business loans in 2020, representing 300% growth in loan volume and a 61% increase in dollars lent versus the prior three-year average. Distribution occurs through the Century City Tower headquarters at 4201 N. 27th Street, the Green Tech Station site at 4101 N. 31st St, and the MMSD West Basin venue at 4350 N. 35th St, with referrals sourced from municipal partners (City of Milwaukee, WEDC), CDFI peers, and community organizations.

The organization is led by Executive Director Willie Smith and runs a hybrid segment focus across small business owners, child care providers, neighborhood residents, and youth. Customer concentration sits within specific industries (food service, child care, transportation, retail) and a tightly bounded geography (Milwaukee's 30th Street Industrial Corridor, Garden Homes neighborhood, and surrounding North Side), making the business model highly mission-aligned but dependent on continued federal appropriations and philanthropic support. Notable recognition includes the 2021 Milwaukee Business Journal Diversity in Business Award, a 2024 Best Places to Work designation, and a 2026 Candid GuideStar Gold Seal.

Name

Northwest Side Community Development Corporation

Legal name

Northwest Side Community Development Corporation

Website

https://nwscdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northwest Side Community Development Corporation is a Milwaukee-based non-profit Community Development Financial Institution founded in 1983 that provides small business lending, technical assistance, and economic development services to underserved entrepreneurs, child care providers, and residents of Milwaukee's Northwest Side.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Financial Services

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

Keywords

• Community development financial
• Small business lending
• Neighborhood planning services
• Environmental education programs
• Economic development assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Grants: NWSCDC receives federal funding from multiple government agencies including the Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund).
2. Small Business Lending: NWSCDC operates a small business lending program that provides loans to businesses in Milwaukee. In 2020 alone, they made 8 small business loans totaling over $1.75 million, representing 300% growth in loan volume and 61% increase in total dollars lent compared to prior years.
3. Donations: The organization accepts donations through PayPal and other means, as indicated on their Donate page, supporting their community economic development work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Northwest Side Community Development Corporation is a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that provides small business lending, business technical assistance, economic development workshops, and neighborhood planning services to Milwaukee's Northwest Side communities. It also operates the Green Tech Station environmental education destination and the MMSD West Basin stormwater management project in partnership with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.

Product overview

Northwest Side Community Development Corporation (NWSCDC) is a community development organization serving Milwaukee for over 40 years, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a unified technology product. Core services include business technical support, small business lending, and economic development programs. Major initiatives include the Green Tech Station environmental education destination, the MMSD West Basin stormwater management project, and the Soul Roll MKE biking initiative. Annual community events include the Promise Zone Bike Ride, North Side Pop-up Farmers Market series, and Family Skate Night. The organization also runs workshop programs for child care providers and small business owners. These programs work together to advance NWSCDC's mission of creating economic opportunities, building partnerships, and strengthening communities on Milwaukee's Northwest Side.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soul Roll MKE: A biking movement and initiative promoting bike culture, community rides, and trail development throughout Milwaukee, organized by NWSCDC.

Products and services

• Small Business Lending Small business lending program providing loans to diverse small businesses, having disbursed over $1.75 million across eight loans in 2020 to support minority and women-owned businesses.
• Business Technical Support Technical assistance and business development support services covering business planning, marketing, financial management, and succession planning for local businesses in Milwaukee's Northwest Side communities.
• Economic Development Programs Comprehensive economic development programs including workshops for child care providers, financial literacy training, and business sustainability programming for Milwaukee small business owners.
• Neighborhood Planning Neighborhood planning services covering neighborhood development, West Basin projects, Green Tech initiatives, and streets/trails planning for the 30th Street Industrial Corridor.
• Green Tech Station Environmental education destination and green infrastructure demonstration site at 4101 N. 31st Street featuring green infrastructure, solar panels, test cells, active research, art installations, and the 30th Street Industrial Corridor's first WaterMarker.
• Soul Roll MKE Biking movement and initiative promoting Milwaukee's biking culture through community rides, bike safety initiatives, and trail network development across the city.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 small business loans totaling over $1.75 million in 2020 alone
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership on major stormwater management and environmental projects including Green Tech Station and the West Basin project. MMSD is a key collaborator on the 40-million gallon stormwater retention system serving the 30th Street Corridor.
• MKE Business CoachminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBusiness coaching partner collaborating with NWSCDC on the Opportunity Knocks Workshop and Opportunity Activator Program to help existing businesses grow and scale operations.
• 30th Street Industrial Corridor CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating organization focused on economic development along the 30th Street Corridor. Partnered on trail planning, community development, and the Connecting the Corridor action plan.
• WI Bike FedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBicycle advocacy organization partnering on the Promise Zone Bike Ride series, youth internships, bike safety initiatives, and trail development programs.
• DreamBikesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBike repair organization sponsoring mobile repair stations at community bike events like the Promise Zone Bike Ride and Bike & Play Fest.
• Bublr BikesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBike share provider partnering to provide free bike rentals for community bike rides and events, supporting NWSCDC's cycling programs.
• Providers Taking Action Support Group Phase II (PTA)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner in financial literacy workshop series for child care providers, collaborating on business education programming.
• By the Book Accounting & Tax Solutions LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting firm partnering with NWSCDC to provide financial management expertise in the financial literacy workshop series for child care businesses.
• Ross Financial, LLCminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFinancial services firm partnering on the financial literacy workshop series for child care providers in Milwaukee.
• Summit Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCredit union co-hosting the Homebuyers After 5 event with NWSCDC to provide homebuying education and resources to the community.
• DanceCircus MKEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization partnering on water and earth-inspired dance events and productions, including the Restore the Earth 2021 collaboration filmed at MMSD's North Basin.
• Nearby Nature MilwaukeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education organization partnering on tree distribution programs, African American Environmental Pioneer Awards, and environmental initiatives.
• City of MilwaukeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey municipal partner on economic development projects, the Connecting the Corridor Plan, Complete Streets policy implementation, and various community initiatives.
• Bank On Greater MilwaukeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial inclusion initiative partnering with NWSCDC on the 'Let's Get Financially Fit' virtual financial literacy series via Facebook Live.
• ArtWorks for MilwaukeeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts internship organization that has partnered with NWSCDC to place high school interns at Century City Tower for environmental arts projects including bottle cap mosaics at Green Tech Station.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Forward Community Investments: A Wisconsin CDFI focused on affordable housing and community development lending — comparable in being a Wisconsin-based CDFI with federal funding relationships and a mission of supporting underserved communities.
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC): A Wisconsin-based CDFI providing small business lending and technical assistance to underserved entrepreneurs — directly comparable to NWSCDC's CDFI lending model and economic development programs, sharing the same regional mission and federal funder relationships.
• Hope Credit Union: A Mississippi-based CDFI credit union serving underserved communities in the Deep South with small business lending and financial services — directly comparable as a community-development-focused CDFI providing capital to minority and underbanked entrepreneurs.
• Self-Help Credit Union: A North Carolina-based CDFI credit union providing small business loans and community development financing — comparable to NWSCDC as a mission-driven CDFI with federal funding relationships focused on economic equity for underserved populations.
• Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI): A Maine-based CDFI providing small business loans and economic development services in underserved communities — directly comparable as a regional CDFI with similar mix of lending, technical assistance, and community development programming.

Broad incumbents

• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): One of the largest national CDFIs, providing capital and technical assistance to local CDCs across the country — comparable as a larger-scale CDFI working through community-rooted intermediaries to drive economic development in distressed neighborhoods.
• Enterprise Community Partners: A national CDFI and housing/community development organization — comparable to NWSCDC in mission and in combining lending, development, and community planning, but operating at a much larger geographic and capital scale.

Regional players

• Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation: A Milwaukee-focused economic development organization providing small business financing and development support — comparable as a local peer in the same city pursuing overlapping small business lending and economic development goals.
• Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council: A Milwaukee-area community organization focused on housing equity and community development — comparable to NWSCDC as a regional nonprofit working on community economic development and equity in the Milwaukee metro area.

Others

• National Association of Community Development Loan Funds (NACDLF / CDFI Coalition): The trade association representing CDFIs nationally — comparable as the ecosystem/peer network to which NWSCDC belongs, providing industry advocacy, peer learning, and federal policy engagement relevant to NWSCDC's funding base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nwscdc
• Facebookfacebook.com/NWSCDC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northwest-side-community-development-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

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 Northwest Side Community Development Corporation