Under the Bipartisan Legislative Loans package signed into law by Governor Tony Evers in 2023, WHEDA administers three competitive loan programs: Infrastructure Access, Restore Main Street, and Vacancy-to-Vitality. WHEDA awards the loans during two application cycles per year. The programs help close the gap between workforce housing needs and supply across urban and rural Wisconsin.
To date, WHEDA has diligently administered and awarded over $25 million of the available loan funding to support the creation of 1,611 affordable housing units statewide.
Assembly Bill 194, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 237, makes certain modifications to the Infrastructure Access, Restore Main Street, and Vacancy-to-Vitality loan programs created in the 2023-25 Biennial Budget. WHEDA has begun updating loan term sheets and award plans to reflect these changes. The Spring Cycle applications will open in late April with final submissions due in late May. Award announcements are expected in June 2026.
2025 competitive loan cycle for the Infrastructure Access, Restore Main Street, and Vacancy-to-Vitality Loan Programs.
Fall Cycle
Spring Cycle
2024 competitive loan cycle for the Infrastructure Access, Restore Main Street, and Vacancy-to-Vitality Loan Programs.
2023 competitive loan cycle for the Restore Main Street and Vacancy-to-Vitality Loan Programs.
Learn more about the Infrastructure Access loan.
This competitive loan program allows a residential housing developer to apply for a loan to cover the costs of installing, replacing, upgrading, or improving public infrastructure related to workforce housing or senior housing. These costs are typically covered by the developer.
Learn more about the Restore Main Street loan.
This competitive loan program allows an owner of rental housing to apply for a loan to cover the costs to improve housing located on the second or third floors of an existing building with commercial space on the ground level.
Learn more about the Vacancy-to-Vitality loan.
This competitive loan program allows a developer to apply for a loan to help cover the cost of converting a vacant commercial building to workforce housing or senior housing.
Governor Evers has signed into law a Bipartisan Housing Legislation Package that will help expand access to safe, affordable housing for working families. WHEDA is administering four loan programs that will emerge from this housing legislation. The new products are critical to providing solutions to address the state’s housing crisis.
Learn more about this $525 million investment in affordable housing here.
Municipalities are critical to the success of new housing development. The cities, towns, and villages of Wisconsin can build on their efforts to increase affordable and workforce housing by meeting the requirements spelled out in three of four new WHEDA housing programs created from legislative action.
What Municipalities Need to Know about WHEDA’s New Loan Programs
View our FAQ's, ask us a question by filling out our Competitive Loan Financing question form or email us at home@wheda.com.
We encourage you to sign up for WHEDA emails to receive the latest on the application cycle, term sheets, and award plans for the Infrastructure Access, Restore Main Street, and Vacancy-to-Vitality Loans.
Back
