Economic Development Washington County

What Economic Development Washington County does

Economic Development Washington County (EDWC) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit economic development organization incorporated in 2005 and headquartered in West Bend, Wisconsin, serving businesses, municipalities, and residents across Washington County. The organization's core function is to drive countywide economic vitality by providing subordinate financing, site selection support, workforce analytics, and advisory consulting to businesses expanding or relocating within the county. Its flagship product is the Impact Loan Fund, which provides $100K–$1M in fixed-rate, long-term subordinate financing to bridge gaps in bank-led deals, complemented by a $25,000 Small Biz Loan, a Brownfield Loan for contaminated site redevelopment, and the Heart & Homestead earned down payment incentive for homebuyers.

EDWC's service portfolio extends beyond lending into data-driven advisory work. The organization licenses Lightcast for labor market analytics and ESRI's ArcGIS Business Analyst for geographic and demographic analysis, layering these onto a proprietary GIS-based site selection tool hosted on its website. Advisory engagements follow a four-phase 'Winning Curve' methodology (Uncover, Analyze, Structure, Secure) covering deal structuring, TIF assessment, incentive guidance, and community approval navigation. The business model combines three revenue streams: loan interest and fees from the Impact Revolving Loan Fund portfolio (which reached a $19.5M evergreen self-sustaining base in 2021), subscription-based consulting fees from Washington County municipalities (transitioned in 2022 to make earned revenue the majority), and fee-for-service consulting on individual deals. Distribution is relationship-based, relying on referral networks with local lenders including BMO Harris Bank and Forte Bank, municipal partnerships, and the annual Business Ready conference. EDWC operates with a small team of roughly 6 staff led by CEO Christian Tscheschlok.

Name

Economic Development Washington County

Legal name

Economic Development Washington County

Website

https://edwc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Economic Development Washington County (EDWC) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit founded in 2005 that provides subordinate business financing ($25K–$1M), workforce and site analytics, and advisory consulting to businesses, municipalities, and homebuyers in Washington County, Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (926), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization Housing Programs (FSALAKAO), Greenfield Site Origination & Land Acquisition (Leases, Easements, Title) (EUAMAAAA)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Business financing solutions
• Site selection consulting
• Workforce analytics
• Brownfield redevelopment

Headquarters

HQ city

West Bend

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Loan Interest and Fees: EDWC generates revenue through interest income and fees on loans from the Impact Loan Fund portfolio. The organization has achieved 'evergreen' status as a self-sustaining revolving loan fund model where repayments are reinvested into future projects.
2. Municipal Subscription Consulting: Starting in 2022, municipalities transitioned to subscription-based consulting arrangements, creating recurring revenue for EDWC. This shift moved the organization to almost entirely earned revenue.
3. Fee-for-Service Consulting: EDWC offers fee-for-service consulting to businesses and municipalities, pilot tested in 2015 and expanded since. Services include deal structuring, incentive guidance, and project-specific advisory.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Economic Development Washington County (EDWC) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit economic development organization that provides subordinate business financing (Impact Loan Fund, Small Biz Loan, Brownfield Loan), down payment assistance (Heart & Homestead), workforce and demographic analytics, site selection support, and advisory consulting for businesses expanding or relocating in Washington County, Wisconsin. The organization combines gap-financing loans with data-driven site selection and incentive structuring to help projects close.

Product overview

EDWC operates as an economic development organization offering a portfolio of financing products and consulting services for Washington County businesses. The core offering is the Impact Loan Fund (comprising the main Impact Loan at $100K-$1M, Small Biz Loan at $25,000, and Brownfield Loan for contaminated site redevelopment), supplemented by the Heart & Homestead down payment incentive for workforce housing. These financial products are complemented by workforce analytics services using Lightcast and ArcGIS platforms, site selection tools, and advisory consulting services using a four-phase 'Winning Curve' methodology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Impact Loan Fund Subordinate, low-cost financing ($100K-$1M) for businesses expanding or relocating in Washington County, working alongside primary bank lenders with fixed rates and up to 25-year amortization. Funds often count as equity for the borrower's primary lender.
• Small Biz Loan Streamlined $25,000 loan for Washington County small businesses with 15 or fewer employees, featuring a 5.50% fixed rate, 5-year term, no collateral required, and a minimum credit score of 670 for 20%+ owners.
• Brownfield Loan Low-interest financing for Phase I/II environmental assessments, remediation, demolition, site preparation, and construction on contaminated or underutilized properties in Washington County, available to for-profit businesses with at least 3 full-time employees.
• Heart & Homestead Earned Down Payment Incentive Down payment incentive program providing up to 10% of purchase price or $20,000 (whichever is less) for Washington County homebuyers purchasing a primary residence under $420,000. Recipients earn the incentive over 5 years through volunteer service ($25/hour) or donations ($0.70 per $1) to reduce repayment.
• Workforce & Demographic Analytics

Quantifiable outcome

• 95 loans closed over 20 years with hundreds of millions in private capital investment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Washington CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012EDWC and Washington County collaboratively manage the Washington County Site Redevelopment Program focused on brownfield assessment and cleanup. In 2014 and 2017, USEPA awarded Washington County brownfield coalition assessment grants totaling $1.2M. EDWC serves as the contracted agent administering programs on behalf of the County.
• Village of GermantowncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGermantown's 'Pay-as-You-Go' TIF Incentive (TID #8) was combined with EDWC's Impact Loan Fund to support projects like Flamingo Marine's 150,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Gateway Business Park.
• City of HartfordcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with City of Hartford on multiple projects including Brewed Omen tasting room, A&N Contracting housing development, and Prescription Analytics relocation. EDWC financing combined with city incentives.
• Washington County Next Generation Housing InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting attainable housing development. EDWC's Impact Loan Fund supports Phase 4 of Partridge Hollow subdivision with 16 homes participating in the initiative designed to address the 'missing middle' housing market with homes priced under $340,000-$420,000.
• HADC (Hartford Area Development Corporation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Brewed Omen tasting room project in Hartford, combining EDWC financing with HADC support and other local incentives.
• Board of DirectorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobust Board of Directors including leaders from BMO Harris Bank, Moraine Park Technical College, Washington County, Schloemer Law Firm, Village of Slinger, WOW Workforce Development Board, Prescription Analytics, Glacier Hills Credit Union, West Bend Insurance Company, Froedtert Health, and WPPI Energy providing governance and strategic guidance.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Madison Region Economic Partnership: A regional economic development partnership serving the Madison, Wisconsin region with similar data-driven site selection and workforce analytics offerings. Comparable geographic and service positioning.
• Milwaukee Economic Development Council: A Wisconsin regional economic development organization serving the Milwaukee metro with site selection, financing, and business attraction services. Comparable regional scope and service mix to EDWC.

Direct peers

• JobsOhio: A state-level private economic development corporation in Ohio that deploys capital, incentives, and site advisory services to businesses. Comparable mission and toolset to EDWC's lending + consulting model.
• Greater Rochester Enterprise: A county/metro-level economic development organization in Rochester, NY providing site selection, data analytics, and incentive advisory. Comparable business model and service mix to EDWC.
• Greater Cleveland Partnership: A regional chamber/EDC serving the Cleveland metro area with site selection, workforce intelligence, and business advocacy. Comparable scope to EDWC at a larger metro scale.
• Waukesha County Center for Growth: A Wisconsin county-level economic development organization offering financing and advisory services to businesses in Waukesha County. Operates the same county-level EDC model as EDWC, making it the most direct comparable peer.
• MassDevelopment: Massachusetts' state-level economic development finance agency providing financing, site assembly, and consulting. Highly comparable as a public economic development financing and advisory entity.

Broad incumbents

• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation: Wisconsin's state-level public-private economic development authority administering state incentives, financing programs, and business attraction. Provides a broader portfolio of EDC services in the same state as EDWC.
• Indiana Economic Development Corporation: Indiana's state-level economic development organization administering state incentives, financing, and business attraction. Comparable mission to EDWC, but state-scale.
• Indy Chamber (Economic Development): The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce operates a robust economic development arm delivering site selection, talent intelligence, and incentive support — comparable to EDWC's data + advisory approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.edwc.org%2Ftimeline%2F2005-laying-the-foundation%2F&t=2005
• Xx.com/WashingtonCtyED
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/economic-development-washington-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Economic Development Washington County