Forward Janesville - TheReport - Fourth Quarter 2018

FOURTH QUARTER 2018 • 7 Kari Heidenreich and Chancellor Beverly Kopper of UW-Whitewater and Lucy Beckord and Sherri Stumpf of Blackhawk Community Credit Union (BHCCU) were all smiles as Blackhawk Community Credit Union announced a $30 million investment initiative in downtown Janesville that includes a new branch of the credit union, restaurants, a wellness center, and a partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater: the 10,000-square-foot Lea McGuire Conference Center. Additional space is anticipated to include law offices, retail, daycare, and 12 condominiums. BHCCU has signed an intent to purchase 2.5 acres on the eastern bank of the Rock River in what will be called the SOCO (South of Court Street) district at 37 South Water Street. The 10,000 square-foot Legacy Center housing historical artifacts from the credit union’s founding members will be a part of the larger 130,000 square-foot, four-story headquarters that will be home to 200 employees. Preliminary forecasts estimate that the annual economic impact of the new Legacy Center could add up to $250,000 toward area tourism which recorded $244.7 million from visitors in 2017. At the event, Dona Dutcher, curator of the Legacy Center, and BHCCU CEO Sherri Stumpf shared renderings of the new Reflections Plaza. “It’s such a privilege to be a part of this project, which will honor our heritage and create our legacy,” said Stumpf. As part of the initiative, BHCCU is partnering with UW-Whitewater to bring its MBA classes to downtown Janesville. “We are so excited for our partnership with UW-Whitewater to bring the campus to downtown Janesville!” said BHCCU CEO Sherri Stumpf. Since 2011, BHCCU has grown from $320 million in assets with six branches to just under $600 million in assets, 50,000 members and 12 branches from Stoughton to Janesville to Kenosha. Blackhawk Goes BIG in Downtown Janesville BHCCU’s announcement wasn’t the only big news this fall. Media outlets nationwide reported on the $26.5 million purchase of five Janesville industrial and commercial properties by Hendricks Commercial Properties (HCP) owned by Diane Hendricks. The deal included about 490,000 total square feet of buildings, including a 250,000- square-foot structure on 22 acres at 101 Venture Drive that is currently home to Cummins Diesel and National Freight Industries and 15.7-acres with a 110,000-square-foot light manufacturing/warehouse facility at 505 S. Wuthering Hills Drive, among others. Perhaps most intriquing to the man-on-the-street. HCP also acquired 5,000 square feet of downtown Janesville storefront property at 22-26 S. Jackson Street, which is the south one-half of the Jackson Square Commercial Condominium where Forward Janesville's office are located. Janesville Development Makes National Headlines “It’s such a privilege to be a part of this project, which will honor our heritage and create our legacy.” Sherri Stumpf - Blackhawk Community Credit Union “The architects at Angus Young Associates helped us to design a legacy, not a building,” said Stumpf. “We’ve been working on this design for over a year. There are so many aspects to consider to provide a space for reflection, function, and purpose.” A beautiful restoration that will grace the Legacy Center.