Second Harvest’s Farm To Foodbank Initiative Receives $50,000 From Compeer Financial

MADISON, WI, August 25, 2023 – Officials from Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin and Compeer Financial announced today that the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is providing $50,000 to support the purchase of produce, dairy, eggs, and more from local farmers and food producers and distribution of the product to families struggling with hunger through Second Harvest’s Farm to Foodbank initiative. 

“Everyone deserves access to the food that makes them feel part of the community,” said Michelle Orge, president & CEO of Second Harvest Foodbank. “Local, fresh produce should not be out of reach for anyone, and thanks to tremendous support from many different sources including organizations like Compeer Financial we’re able to put nourishing food on the tables of those facing hunger in our community while supporting our local economies at the same time.” 

The goals of Farm to Foodbank are simple: 

• Provide more nutritious food to those facing hunger in southwestern Wisconsin 
• Support local farmers and food producers 
• Invest in the local economy 

Launched by Federal pandemic-relief funds allocated by Dane County, Farm to Foodbank has provided tens of millions of pounds of locally sourced food into our community. Working with over 55 local farmers and food producers throughout southwestern Wisconsin, in 2022 alone the initiative helped provide 3.8 million meals and generate more than $12 million in local economic activity. 

The $50,000 from Compeer was allocated through Compeer’s MORE for Agriculture grant which, now it its fifth year, supports innovative programs that encompass four qualities: 

• Mission: Aligns with the mission of Compeer Financial, enriches agriculture and rural communities 
• Opportunity: Provides a new opportunity for clients or future clients, fills a known void in agricultural and rural markets, is a new and innovative project 
• Replication: Can be replicated by others to serve different geographic areas, with the ability for future collaboration 
• Evolution: Evolves over time to create a better future for agriculture and rural America 

As part of the grant process, the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America Trustees asked Compeer team members to identify programs and projects they believe create MORE for agriculture. In all, nearly $900,000 has been awarded to 20 organizations since 2019. 

“It is an honor to join forces with these groups that are truly creating positive changes in their communities through groundbreaking projects,” said Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist at Compeer Financial. “The recipients of the MORE for Agriculture grants are trailblazers and creative thinkers in the field of food and agriculture. Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin exemplifies this. We hope projects and programs like this will motivate others to contribute further toward ending hunger.” 

The grant comes at a critical time for Second Harvest and its network of partner food providers like food pantries, meal sites, and shelters. In fiscal year 2023 – July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 – Second Harvest distributed 22.7 million pounds of food, more than any other fiscal year in its history. Recently, many of the food providers in the network have reported a 30%, 40%, and even 100% increase in the number of people seeking support. 

Rebel Scrum: Scrum Day Event Coming September 14

Don’t miss out on the Scrum Day event coming to Madison, Wisconsin, on September 14, 2023.  This isn’t your same old conference. Scrum is a team sport, so this conference has something for Scrum Masters, Executives, Product Owners, Developers and those who are just curious about Scrum.

• Morning keynote is a series of guided discussions designed to help make new connections while advancing your practice
• Lunch keynote is Scrum.org CEO Dave West, who will be speaking to developing individuals for successful Agile teams

Break-out sessions include topics for Executives, Product Owners, Scrum Masters and Developers from thought leaders in Scrum.

Learn more at: https://www.scrumday.org/

Crisp & Green Grand Opening!

Summit Credit Union provides $700,000 in 2023 Federal Home Loan Bank grants to eligible homebuyers 

Media Contact:
Jason Waller
(608) 243-5000, ext. 6862
publicrelations@summitcreditunion.com

Summit Credit Union provides $700,000 in 2023 Federal Home Loan Bank grants to eligible homebuyers 

Qualified homebuyers received up to $10,000 in FHLB (Chicago) grants through Summit toward their down payment, closing costs, or pre-paid expenses. 

Madison, Wis — Summit Credit Union has provided its full 2023 allotment of $700,000 in grants from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago to eligible homebuyers, supporting their down payments, closing costs, or pre-paid expenses. 

Each year the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, a cooperative institution, provides Summit Credit Union, and other participating financials, grant money to qualifying homebuyers. When purchasing a property, consumers qualify if their annual income is less than or equal to 80 percent of the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) area’s median income. This varies across the state.  

“We love to help people find a way to buy their own home, so we’re excited to have provided all the grant money allotted to us,” said Kristin Nesbitt, Summit Credit Union’s Vice President of Mortgage Lending. “Our Mortgage Loan Officers, Processors and Underwriters are all focused on identifying opportunities like this for our members.” 

“We prioritize distributing these funds to help more people on their path to homeownership,” said Summit Credit Union CEO and President, Kim Sponem.  “This is the power of cooperatives working together for our members and it’s just one of many lending tools we use to help members achieve their financial goals.” 

About Summit Credit Union

Established in 1935, Summit Credit Union is a member-owned financial cooperative. Summit holds $6.6 billion in assets and has more than 250,000 members and 948 employees across 56 locations throughout south-central and southeastern Wisconsin. Since 2002, Kim Sponem has been CEO & President of Summit Credit Union, formerly known as CUNA Credit Union/Great Wisconsin Credit Union.    

Recognized for its excellence in employee engagement, in 2021, 2022 and 2023 Summit was named both a Top Workplace in the USA by Top Workplaces USA and a Top Workplace in the Madison area by the Wisconsin State Journal. In 2023 it has added a Top Workplace award in Milwaukee by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.        

For more information, visit www.summitcreditunion.com or call 608-243-5000 or 800-236-5560. For additional media information, visit https://www.summitcreditunion.com/about-summit/press-room or follow Summit on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.     

About Federal Home Loan Banks  
The FHLBank System was created by the Federal Home Loan Bank Act of 1932 as a government sponsored enterprise to support mortgage lending and community investment. The System is composed of 11 regional banks which are privately capitalized and owned as cooperatives by their members. Their regional distribution enables each bank to focus on the distinct needs of their individual communities. 

While only financial institutions may belong to a FHLBank, people everywhere benefit from them. Each year, the FHLBanks provide access to billions of dollars in low-cost funding to approximately 6,600 of America’s banks, credit unions, insurance companies and community development financial institutions.

Everlight Solar Ranks No. 632 on the Inc. 5000

With Three-Year Revenue Growth of 929.562% Percent, Everlight Solar Ranks No. 632 Among America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Inc. revealed today that Everlight Solar ranks No. 632 on the 2023 Inc. 5000, its annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other household name brands gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

 “We are incredibly honored to have earned a place among the distinguished Inc. 5000 list,” says Will Creech, President and CEO of Everlight Solar. “This recognition underscores our relentless commitment to sustainable energy solutions and the dedicated efforts of our team.”

The Inc. 5000 class of 2023 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year’s top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate ticked up to an astonishing 2,238 percent. In all, this year’s Inc. 5000 companies have added 1,187,266 jobs to the economy over the past three years.

For complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, location, and other criteria, go to www.inc.com/inc5000. The top 500 companies are featured in the September issue of Inc. magazine, available on newsstands beginning Tuesday, August 23.

“Running a business has only gotten harder since the end of the pandemic,” says Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “To make the Inc. 5000—with the fast growth that requires—is truly an accomplishment. Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that are building our future.”

Everlight Solar has emerged as a frontrunner in reshaping the solar industry, offering seamless solar solutions to homeowners without any upfront costs. By streamlining the entire process — from initial consultation through installation to post-installation communication — Everlight Solar ensures an effortless transition to solar power. As Everlight Solar continues to lead the way in making renewable energy attainable for homeowners, this accomplishment is a testament to the company’s growth trajectory and unwavering focus on customer satisfaction.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 

Methodology
Companies on the 2023 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2019 to 2022. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2019. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2022. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2019 is $100,000; the minimum for 2022 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places.

About Inc. 
Inc. Business Media is the leading multimedia brand for entrepreneurs. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of our community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating our future. Inc.’s award-winning work reaches more than 50 million people across a variety of channels, including events, print, digital, video, podcasts, newsletters, and social media. Its proprietary Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to rank the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The recognition that comes with inclusion on this and other prestigious Inc. lists, such as Female Founders and Power Partners, gives the founders of top businesses the opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

About Everlight Solar
Everlight Solar is the fastest-growing solar company in the Midwest, with operations in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. To learn more about open jobs or about going solar for your own home, visit www.everlightsolar.com.