Mcdevco

What Mcdevco does

MCDEVCO, Inc. is a nonprofit economic development corporation founded on June 5, 1978, and headquartered at 100 N 72nd Avenue in Wausau, Wisconsin, serving Marathon County. Originally formed as the Development Corporation of Marathon County, the organization rebranded to McDEVCO, Inc. in 1979 and adopted the all-caps MCDEVCO designation in 1993. Its mission is to promote the social and economic welfare of Marathon County residents through job creation, poverty alleviation, and blight remediation.

MCDEVCO operates an integrated service portfolio spanning four core product lines: (1) GAP financing, providing up to 40% of total project cost in collaboration with area financial institutions under 5-10 year terms; (2) micro loans of $5,000-$25,000 at a fixed 3% interest rate for businesses with 10 or fewer employees; (3) entrepreneur education programs including the GEARS Certificate of Entrepreneurial Excellence, public speaking workshops, sales tax workshops, and the Women's Leadership Summit; and (4) physical workspace via the GEARS Center co-working facility (launched April 2019) and the Wausau Business Incubator (partnered 2021), which together provide offices, manufacturing space, and a shared commercial kitchen. The organization administers five revolving loan funds on behalf of the City of Wausau, Marathon County, and private donors.

MCDEVCO's business model blends transaction-based lending, recurring subscription revenue from co-working memberships and tiered organizational memberships (Platinum Plus, Platinum, Gold, Community Partners), unit-priced educational programming, and managed-services fees for loan fund administration. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on a 3-person paid staff, an 18-member board, and 25-35 volunteer business mentors. The organization collaborates strategically with area financial institutions (Abby Bank, IncredibleBank, Intercity State Bank, Peoples State Bank), educational institutions (Northcentral Technical College), and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Recent media recognition includes a Business in Focus magazine feature in July 2025.

Name

Mcdevco

Legal name

MCDEVCO, Inc.

Website

https://mcdevco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MCDEVCO is a 47-year-old nonprofit economic development corporation in Wausau, Wisconsin, serving Marathon County entrepreneurs and small businesses via GAP financing, micro loans, educational programs, and co-working space.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Secured Microloans (Community/Nonprofit, Collateralized) (FSAKALAJ)

Keywords

• Small business financing
• Economic development
• Entrepreneur education
• Micro lending
• Business incubation

Headquarters

HQ city

Wausau

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. GAP Financing: MCDEVCO provides GAP financing - lending up to 40% of total project costs in collaboration with area financial institutions. Interest rates vary and terms range between 5 and 10 years. This fills the gap between what small business owners can borrow, their down payment, and total project cost.
2. Micro Loans: Micro loans are small enterprise loans of $5,000 - $25,000 at a fixed 3% interest rate. These flexible short-term loans are intended for new and existing small businesses with 10 or fewer employees.
3. Membership Fees: Individuals, businesses, and municipalities can become MCDEVCO members. The organization has various membership tiers including Platinum Plus, Platinum, Gold, and Community Partners.
4. GEARS Center Co-Working Memberships: The GEARS Center offers various co-working memberships including designated desks ($60/month standard, $90/month with locking cabinet), daily shared workspace ($10/day), and conference room rentals.
5. Loan Fund Administration: MCDEVCO serves as loan administrator for multiple revolving loan funds including the City of Wausau CDBG Fund, Marathon County Revolving Loan Fund, Micro Loan Fund, Minority Loan Fund, and Private Donor Loan Funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MCDEVCO is a nonprofit economic development corporation that provides GAP financing (up to 40% of total project cost), micro loans ($5,000–$25,000 at a fixed 3% rate), and small enterprise loans to new and existing small businesses with 10 or fewer employees in Marathon County, Wisconsin. It complements its financing with entrepreneur education programs, a network of volunteer business mentors, the GEARS Center co-working facility, the Wausau Business Incubator, and a tiered membership program for individuals, businesses, and municipalities.

Product overview

MCDEVCO, Inc. is a nonprofit economic development corporation offering a unified portfolio of business development services for Marathon County, Wisconsin. The organization operates as a one-stop resource combining GAP Financing and Micro Loan programs for business capital, Entrepreneur Education Programs for skill development, the GEARS Center co-working facility, and the Wausau Business Incubator for physical workspace. These core offerings are complemented by a Membership Program and Events/Programs calendar, creating an integrated ecosystem supporting entrepreneurs from startup through growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GEARS Center: Co-working, collaborative workspace center providing entrepreneurs, innovators, remote workers, freelancers, and small businesses with a state-of-the-art work environment.
• Wausau Business Incubator (WBI)

Products and services

• GAP Financing Lending program that provides up to 40% of total project cost in financing, collaborating with area financial institutions to complete loan transactions for new and expanding small businesses in Marathon County. Interest rates vary and terms range from 5 to 10 years. Job creation target is typically one full-time position for every $35,000 loaned.
• Micro Loan Small enterprise loans of $5,000–$25,000 at a fixed 3% interest rate, offering flexible short-term financing for new and existing small businesses with 10 or fewer employees in Marathon County.
• Entrepreneur Education Programs Educational programs, workshops, and seminars for entrepreneurs covering business planning, marketing, human resources, social media, public speaking, sales tax, and other skills. Offered at no charge or nominal fees with scholarships available upon request.
• GEARS Center Co-Working Co-working center providing workspace for entrepreneurs, remote workers, freelancers, and small businesses with designated desks ($60/month standard, $90/month with locking cabinet), daily shared workspace ($10/day), and conference room rentals. Includes high-speed internet, 24/7 access, coffee/tea, printer, and free on-site parking.
• Wausau Business Incubator Business incubator offering office, manufacturing, and shared commercial kitchen spaces for lease to new and expanding businesses, combined with MCDEVCO's entrepreneurial programming and financial resources as a one-stop shop.
• Membership Program Organizational membership program for individuals, businesses, and municipalities to support economic development, with tiered membership levels including Platinum Plus, Platinum, Gold, and Community Partners. Annual members receive 10% off programs and events.
• GEARS Certificate of Entrepreneurial Excellence Program 13-week, 26-hour certificate program that provides structured entrepreneurial education to a cohort of up to 15 participants, covering skills needed to start and grow a small business.
• Loan Fund Administration Services MCDEVCO administers multiple revolving loan funds on behalf of public and private partners, including the City of Wausau Community Development Block Grant Fund, the Marathon County Revolving Loan Fund, the Micro Loan Fund, the Minority Loan Fund, and Private Donor Loan Funds.

Quantifiable outcome

• For every $1 in lending to small businesses, sales increased between $1.05 and $2.84 (average $2.31), creating between $2.01 and $5.59 (average $3.79) in gross output in local communities.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wausau Business Incubator (WBI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021MCDEVCO combined resources with the Wausau Business Incubator in early 2021. Together they offer office and manufacturing spaces for businesses to lease, and access to a shared commercial kitchen for retail food or food processing businesses. The WBI provides an ideal environment for MCDEVCO's entrepreneurial programming and financial resources, creating a one-stop shop for new and expanding businesses.
• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEDC is a Community Partner of MCDEVCO. WEDC awarded over $1.1 million to eight organizations supporting entrepreneurs in Wisconsin, and MCDEVCO serves as the primary point of contact for business expansion and startup information in Marathon County.
• Ruder WareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Plus Member of MCDEVCO, supporting the organization's economic development mission.
• Marathon CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Partner. MCDEVCO accomplishes major goals from Marathon County's Strategic Plan for 2018-2022 regarding GAP financing. Marathon County is served through the Marathon County Revolving Loan Fund.
• Northcentral Technical CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Member of MCDEVCO. Educational partner providing workforce development support.
• JSA FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity Partner of MCDEVCO, supporting economic development initiatives.
• GEARS Center PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMCDEVCO fosters collaboration with municipalities for the GEARS Center, promoting evolution and change for county and municipal partnerships to align strategic priorities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Kiva U.S. Online crowdfunding-based microfinance platform offering 0% interest loans up to $15K to U.S. small businesses, often through partner CDFIs. Competes with MCDEVCO's micro loan product in borrower acquisition and digital onboarding.

Direct peers

• DreamSpring: National nonprofit CDFI (formerly Accion) providing microloans up to ~$50K, business education, and mentoring to underserved small business owners. Closest national analog to MCDEVCO's microloan-plus-education model.
• WBD, Inc. Wisconsin-based nonprofit providing microloans and small business development services, particularly in central Wisconsin. Direct regional peer in microenterprise lending and entrepreneur education.
• Justine Petersen Housing & Reinvestment Corporation: St. Louis-based nonprofit CDFI offering microloans, small business lending, and entrepreneur education. Direct comparable in mission, loan size range, and integrated education-plus-capital approach.
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC): Wisconsin-based nonprofit CDFI providing microloans, entrepreneur education, and small business lending across the state. Most direct peer given shared geography, mission, and product mix including micro loans and business education.
• Grameen America: National nonprofit microfinance organization providing small business loans to women entrepreneurs in underserved U.S. communities. Comparable on small-dollar microloan product but uses group-liability model rather than MCDEVCO's bank partnership structure.

Broad incumbents

• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC): State-level economic development agency that channels capital and grants to organizations like MCDEVCO. Comparable in economic development mission but operates at state scale rather than single-county.
• Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI): Maine-based nonprofit CDFI providing small business loans, business education, and incubation services in rural communities. Larger and broader portfolio but structurally identical operating model.

Regional players

• Wausau Chamber of Commerce: Local business membership organization serving the same Marathon County geography as MCDEVCO, with overlapping business networking and economic development missions. Adjacent rather than directly competing on lending products.

Others

• Northcentral Technical College Entrepreneur Center: Regional community college-based entrepreneur education provider that overlaps with MCDEVCO's educational programming and is listed as a Gold Member partner. Not a direct competitor but an ecosystem collaborator on workforce/entrepreneur training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mcdevco
• Facebookfacebook.com/MCDEVCO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Mcdevco