Contact: Kate Venne, WHEDA (608) 334-4609
Antonio Riley’s remarks to focus on minority business growth and development
Madison – Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Director Antonio Riley will speak at the Genesis Community Development Corporation’s 10th Anniversary soul food breakfast celebration in honor of Black History Month. The breakfast will take place tomorrow morning, February 26th, at 7:30 a.m. at the Genesis Enterprise Center, 313 W. Beltline Hwy, in Madison.
Genesis Enterprise Center was the first minority-owned business incubator in the country to receive New Markets Tax Credits to further grow their business. As the country’s first state housing authority to receive New Markets, WHEDA allocated $3.1 million of the credits to Genesis in 2005.
“We are proud to have put millions of dollars from our 2005 New Markets Tax Credits allocation into black-owned businesses here in Wisconsin,” said Riley. “With our 2007 allocation, we will continue to foster minority businesses by using all of our resources, including New Markets Tax Credits and our successful Emerging Business Program.”
Riley is the first African American to lead WHEDA. WHEDA is an independent state authority that works with lenders to provide low-cost financing for housing and small business development in Wisconsin. For more information on WHEDA’s housing programs, call 1-800-334-6873 or visit WHEDA’s website http://www.wheda.com.
