Wisconsin churches offered new path to transform land into affordable housing and community spaces

Churches across Wisconsin are being invited to reimagine their property as a tool for community good through the new Good Next Step Grant Program. The $1.1 million initiative offers grants of up to $40,000, along with expert guidance, to help congregations create affordable housing, sustainability projects, and community gathering spaces. The grant supports critical early-stage pre-development work—site analysis, zoning review, massing studies, pro forma modeling—while allowing congregations to retain control of their property as they move forward.

The program’s “pay-it-forward” model ensures that when a church project succeeds, funds are recycled to support the next congregation—creating a ripple effect of positive change across the state. The pilot will support up to 30 church churches, catalyzing an estimated $450 million in community-oriented development over the next decade, while creating a replicable model for churches nationwide...