Forward Community Investments awards $10 million in NMTCs to support transformative mixed-use facility
Forward Community Investments (FCI) is proud to support the Lincoln-King Community and Health Care Center in Racine, WI with a $10 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation. This investment is helping bring to life a long-anticipated project that will expand access to quality healthcare, public health services, and youth programming in one of Wisconsin’s most underserved neighborhoods.
A vision more than 15 years in the making
For more than a decade, Racine leaders and community advocates have worked to bring a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) to the city—a vital resource to fill long-standing gaps in access to care. That vision is now becoming a reality through the Lincoln-King Center, a $68 million, 75,000-square-foot facility located in the heart of the Lincoln-King neighborhood.
FCI’s $10 million NMTC allocation is part of a collaborative financing effort that includes four other community development entities (CDEs), totaling $47 million in NMTC support. The project is also backed by a $20 million grant from the Wisconsin Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Grant Program, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Bringing critical services under one roof
When completed, the Lincoln-King Center will serve as a hub for connection, care, and community. The facility will include:
Pillar Health – Racine’s first Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), providing comprehensive medical, dental, pediatric, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to more than 4,700 patients annually
Racine Public Health Department – Relocating and expanding from its current site to better integrate with community health programming.
Community center – A welcoming, state of the art space for youth, families, and seniors offering:
A larger gymnasium to house Racine’s popular basketball programming
An e-sports room
Expanded after-school programs and community events
The community center currently serves 24,000 children each year. In the new facility, that number will increase to over 30,000, 85–90% of whom are youth of color.
Economic impact through quality job creation
The project is expected to create 20 new jobs and retain 36 existing positions, many of which are quality, living-wage roles accessible to local residents. During construction, the development will employ 100% union labor and meet the requirements of the Racine Works program, which mandates that 20% of total labor hours be performed by Racine residents.
As a further sign of its potential, the City of Racine is exploring follow-up housing initiatives, including the renovation or construction of 50 homes surrounding the site. The project’s proximity to Julian Thomas Elementary School strengthens its ties to local youth and creates opportunities for shared programming and impact.
A catalytic investment in community infrastructure
“This project is about more than bricks and mortar,” said Ryan Zerwer, President & CEO of FCI. “It’s about expanding access—to care, support, connection, and opportunity. We’re proud to support a development that will make a real difference in the lives of Racine residents for generations to come.”
Learn more
Read the full project spotlight in the Racine County Eye:
🔗 https://racinecountyeye.com/2024/10/30/racine-lincoln-king-health-center
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