Representatives from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago), IFF, Impact Seven, Cinnaire, and Northwood Technical College joined local leaders on Sept. 11 to celebrate the groundbreaking of Trailview Cottages, a new rural workforce housing development in Hayward, Wis.

Through its 2024 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund, FHLBank Chicago awarded a $2 million grant through member IFF to support Trailview Cottages. Impact Seven is leading the development with Cinnaire as a key partner. All three Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) are FHLBank Chicago members and Community First^® Fund (CFF) partners, underscoring the strength of this network in expanding affordable housing across Wisconsin.

Trailview Cottages will bring 40 newly constructed, single-story, cottage-style apartments to Sawyer County. Located on the north side of Hayward, the homes will include one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, each with an attached one-car garage and private driveway. Shared amenities will include a fitness center, community room, outdoor patio, and pet-friendly spaces.

“Workforce housing is vital for the stability of rural communities and the growth of local economies,” said Katie Naftzger, Senior Vice President and Community Investment Officer, FHLBank Chicago. “Trailview Cottages shows how the AHP General Fund, along with leadership from our CDFI members like IFF, Impact Seven, and Cinnaire, can expand the supply of affordable housing while supporting the residents and employers that rural communities rely on to foster long-term growth.”

Housing leaders and community partners gathered in Hayward, Wisconsin, to celebrate the groundbreaking of Trailview Cottages—an affordable housing development supported by a $2 million Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from FHLBank Chicago.

Supported by the Housing Opportunity and Mobile Education Solutions (HOMES) Initiative, a Workforce Innovation Grant program funded by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Trailview Cottages is designed to address the region’s shortage of affordable housing while also strengthening the local workforce. The development will feature a Workforce Accelerator operated by Northwood Technical College, which will bring classroom space and mobile training labs on-site for high-demand fields such as manufacturing, welding, and dental assisting.

“The HOMES project shows what’s possible when local partners, educators, and a mission-driven developer work together. We’re building more than homes; we’re building futures,” said Brett Gerber, President of Impact Seven. “By pairing housing with workforce training, we’re addressing two of the most pressing needs in rural Wisconsin – safe, affordable homes and access to good-paying jobs. It’s a model for rural revitalization that we believe can work across the state.”

AHP General Fund grants subsidize the acquisition, new construction, or rehabilitation of rental or owner-occupied housing. Delivered in partnership with FHLBank Chicago financial institution members, these forgivable grants help address ongoing housing supply challenges by expanding access to quality affordable housing across Illinois and Wisconsin.

In 2024, FHLBank Chicago awarded $48 million in AHP General Fund grants to 35 affordable housing projects, helping create more than 1,300 new or rehabilitated housing units. Building on that impact, FHLBank Chicago expects to award $52 million in AHP General Fund grants in 2025, with recipients to be announced this fall.

Trailview Cottages is being developed by Impact Seven with support from IFF, Cinnaire, Northwood Technical College, WHEDA, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Tamarack Health, and other local and regional partners. Construction is scheduled to be completed by spring 2026.

“This project is a great example of how public-private partnerships make quality affordable housing possible in rural communities," said Chris Jillings, SVP Business Development at Cinnaire. "Through the Housing Tax Credit program, federal resources, state leadership, and private investment come together to create high-quality housing like Trailview Cottages that directly support the local workforce."

For additional information, please visit FHLBank Chicago’s AHP General Fund webpage.