DeForest Community Development Authority Awarded $150,000 State Grant

DeForest Community Development Authority Awarded $150,000 State Grant to Advance Redevelopment Project

DeForest, WI — The Community Development Authority (CDA) of the Village of DeForest has been awarded a $150,000 Site Assessment Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to support environmental assessment and site clearance activities for a redevelopment project in downtown DeForest.

The grant, awarded through WEDC’s Site Assessment Grant (SAG) Program, will fund environmental site investigations, demolition, asbestos abatement, and related assessment work at property located at the corner of Highway V and Main Street. These activities are a critical early step in preparing the site for construction of Yahara Crossing, a CDA-led mixed-use affordable housing development. 

Yahara Crossing is planned as a three-story, mixed-use development featuring 62 apartments and approximately 4,500 square feet of first-floor commercial space, along with underground parking, community space for residents, and rooftop solar infrastructure.    ...more

Leo’s notes: Strategic investments like this—focused on reuse of underutilized land, mixed-use development, and long-term affordability—show how local leadership and state partnership can turn planning goals into real housing opportunities that strengthen both downtowns and communities.