COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $250,000 EXPANSION OF COIN MICRO-LOAN PROGRAM FOR DOOR COUNTY ENTREPRENEURS

The Door County Community Foundation, Inc. announced today that it has made an additional $250,000 of business capital available to local entrepreneurs through an expansion of its COIN Micro-Loan Program.

COIN, the Community Opportunity Investment Network, was created by the Community Foundation to stimulate economic activity which leads to the creation of new jobs.

“While we will always award grants to human service programs, the best anti-poverty program is a year ‘round, good paying job with benefits,” says Bret Bicoy, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “COIN was created to invest in local entrepreneurs who are building the businesses that will eventually employ people in Door County.”

COIN borrowers usually have been turned down by traditional banks because their businesses have little cash flow history or the loans for which they qualify are at credit card like interest rates. COIN loans are available to people with great business ideas and strong character at interest rates that are far below what would normally be available for a business with such limited history. COIN loans make it affordable for promising entrepreneurs to start or expand their business in Door County.

During the initial phase of the COIN Micro-Loan Program, four local businesses received loans ranging from $8,000 to $45,000. In the first 18 months, two of those companies had grown successful enough to pay back their loans entirely. The other two businesses remain strong and have never missed a loan payment.

“We’re not here to give someone an easy path to riches,” says Dave Eliot of the Community Foundation’s Board and a member of the COIN Loan Committee. “We want people who say I’m willing to take a risk. I’m willing to work hard. We want the entrepreneur who says if you’re willing to give me access to a small amount of capital to get me over that hump, I’m going to be successful.”

A COIN Loan Committee comprised of local business leaders and successful entrepreneurs reviews every application and interviews the entrepreneurs.

Nicolet National Bank is an integral partner in this program and will originate and service all COIN loans for the current $250,000 expansion. “We are excited to be working with Nicolet as they continue the long tradition of their forerunners of building successful businesses in Door County,” says Bicoy.

The Community Foundation has engaged the services of the Door County Economic Development Corporation to accept applicants and guide local entrepreneurs through the process. Entrepreneurs interested in learning more or applying for a loan should contact DCEDC at (920) 743-3133 or visit http://www.InvestDoorCounty.org.

For more information about the Community Foundation’s services and various grant programs, please visit http://www.GiveDoorCounty.org.

The Door County Community Foundation, Inc. is a collection of separate charitable funds set up by individuals, families, non-profit organizations, private foundations and businesses that are managed, invested and disbursed for the current and future good of Door County. The Foundation was launched in 1999 and currently administers more than $17 million in charitable assets.

Community Foundation Awards Sustainability Grant to the Door County Medical Center Foundation

The Door County Community Foundation recently awarded the Door County Medical Center Foundation a Sustainability Grant from the John and Nell Herlache Community Impact Fund and the Health and Human Needs for the Ministry Fund Program.

The Ministry Fund Program is an initiative to improve the health and well-being of the people in Door County, especially the poor and vulnerable. In 2015, the Ministry Fund helped over 800 people in our community and distributed over $43,000 worth of assistance.

“Often people reach out to the hospital when they feel they have nowhere else to turn,” said Kacie Mueller, Community Relations Officer of the Door County Community Foundation. “The Community Foundation is proud to support the Ministry Fund Program which provides one-time assistance to help Door County residents overcome a crisis.”

From left to right, Andrew Boettcher, Assistant Director of Foundation and Development at the Door County Medical Center Foundation, Kacie Mueller, Community Relations Officer of the Door County Community Foundation, and Mike Herlache, Executive Director of Door County Medical Center Foundation.

 

Door County Medical Center Dental Clinic provides oral health care to the youth and adults of Door and Kewaunee Counties. The clinic serves those who are on Medicaid and/or those with no dental insurance that are low-income with no dental home.

For more information about the Door County Medical Center Foundation, please call (920) 746-1071 or visit www.ministryhealthy.org/DCMH/home/Foundation.org.

The Door County Community Foundation’s Sustainability Grants program distributes grant dollars from funds such as the Arts Fund, Children & Youth Fund, Green Fund, Health & Human Needs Fund, Education Fund, Historic Preservation Fund, Healthy Water Fund, and Women’s Fund.

For more information about the Community Foundation’s services and various grant programs, please visit www.GiveDoorCounty.org.

The Door County Community Foundation, Inc. is a collection of separate charitable funds set up by individuals, families, non-profit organizations, private foundations and businesses that are managed, invested and disbursed for the current and future good of Door County. The Foundation was launched in 1999 and currently administers more than $17 million in charitable assets.

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Community Foundation Awards Grant to Prevent Suicide Door

The Door County Community Foundation has awarded Prevent Suicide Door County Nathan Wilson Coalition a Sustainability Grant from the Health and Human Needs Fund. This grant will support Question, Persuade, Referral (QPR) Trainings.

The issue that Prevent Suicide Door County Nathan Wilson Coalition continues to address is the education of Door County residents. With the grant from the Community Foundation, Prevent Suicide Door County will send 4 people through the QPR “Train the Trainers” course. The training course comes out of the state of Washington QPR Institute. These trainings are held across the US and are acknowledged as making an impact on lessening suicides. Upon completion of the course, these trainers will hold over 40 free, one hour trainings throughout Door County.

“Education builds confidence and self-esteem. It encourages the kind of leadership that supports a healthy community,” said Jeff Ottum, Board Member of the Door County Community Foundation.

Jeff Ottum, Board Member of the Door County Community Foundation and Cheryl Wilson, Chairperson of Prevent Suicide Door County Nathan Wilson Coalition

Prevent Suicide Door County Nathan Wilson Coalition was started in 2011 after Dave and Cheryl Wilson’s son Nathan died by suicide in 2010. Family and Friends came together to try to stop the pain of loss be suicide in Door County and organized with the help of Prevent Suicide Wisconsin.

For more information about Prevent Suicide Door County Nathan Wilson Coalition, please email preventsuicide@gmail.com or call 920.495.2383.

The Door County Community Foundation’s Sustainability Grants program distributes grant dollars from funds such as the Arts Fund, Children & Youth Fund, Education Fund, Green Fund, Health & Human Needs Fund, Healthy Water Fund, Historic Preservation Fund, and the Women’s Fund.

For more information about the Community Foundation’s services and various grant programs, please visit www.GiveDoorCounty.org.

The Door County Community Foundation, Inc. is a collection of separate charitable funds set up by individuals, families, non-profit organizations, private foundations and businesses that are managed, invested and disbursed for the current and future good of Door County. The Foundation was launched in 1999 and currently administers more than $17 million in charitable assets.

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