We study the feasibility of community centers. If you are trying to start a new community center and need assistance, please contact us. We may be able to do market surveys, help with grants, help navigating loans, and otherwise help you get started. The activity needs to be related to the feasibility of your idea and the information needs to be published openly.

Consider it a “Playbook for Rural Community Wellness Centers.” If you find this information and our mission compelling, please consider a tax-deductible donation here. I'm currently donating the time and resources I spend on this, to the tune of $7200 so far (at $20/hr). I do it because I think the vision of a network of these community centers is what's needed to counteract the onslaught of loneliness and disappearing “third spaces”.

WHEREHOWS: Project Scope & Mission

WHEREHOWS is a research and technical assistance initiative dedicated to lowering the barrier to entry for rural and peri-urban community centers. We operate on the principle that community infrastructure should be sustainable, adaptable, and rooted in local heritage.

“I am launching WHEREHOWS to solve the 'Infrastructure Gap' in rural America. We are studying how to use sustainable tech and creative land-use to build community centers that don't rely on massive debt. Our first pilot study is already underway in Sheboygan County.”

WHEREHOWS provides the following services to nascent community projects, using the “Jungle Gym” (Sheboygan, WI) as its primary pilot study and proof-of-concept:

• Feasibility & Market Analysis: Conducting site-specific surveys to determine community needs, demographic shifts, and economic viability.
• Technical Design Assistance: Providing schematics for low-cost, high-yield infrastructure (e.g., scavenged-material hydroponics, solar-integrated outbuildings, and vertical “living” fitness spaces).
• Financial Navigation: Assisting founders in navigating the complex landscape of CDFI loans, SBA requirements, and local land-use grants.
• Open-Source Knowledge Sharing: Publishing all research, blueprints, and market findings openly to create a “Rural Development Playbook.”

To ensure public benefit, WHEREHOWS maintains a digital repository of all findings (right here on this wiki). By documenting the successes and hurdles of the Jungle Gym Pilot, we provide a blueprint for other founders to:

• Leverage ancestral land assets without selling them.
• Integrate food production (hydroponics) into wellness spaces.
• Utilize “Sweat Equity” as a recognized financial asset.

Our flagship pilot project focuses on a permaculture-integrated wellness hub in rural Wisconsin, serving as the primary case study for our open-source development model.“

Schools are exemplary properties for community centers, since they often have large open internal areas, multiple separate rooms, and can usually be found below the typical market rate. The biggest 3 issues getting them revitalized are 1) sprinklers 2) ADA 3) roof condition. There are a number of activities, like changing the use of a property, that may trigger various levels of code updates. This is a matter to be discussed with an architect and/or the local building inspector.

public-school-property-conversions.pdf

school_conversion_project_summary_12-16-1.pdf (from Errin Welty with the WEDC)

adaptive_reuse_abandoned_schools.pdf from e-architect

Seven Adaptive Reuse Sites Continue to Educate

Abandoned Schools Garner Top Grades In Adaptive Reuse

You will most likely have to deal with the most risk-averse people whose entire jobs it is to take calculated risks - lenders. I'm talking banks. Want to start a business? I hope you already have a business for 3 years. Want a loan? I hope you have good credit, because without it they won't touch you even with collateral. If someone made me a deal where if they win I get $50k and if they lose I get $50k I'd take it even if they have negative credit myself, but I'm no banker

Banks. Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

Like traditional lenders but with less rules and higher interest rates. These are the guys “flippers” use because they're way faster than traditional loans, but charge more and have shorter terms. Still, they may come in handy.

The main SBA programs are the 504 (real estate) and the 7(a) (real estate, repairs, equipment, operating expenses, pretty much anything). People will rarely do a 504 for less than 350k even though they could, they're just lazy. The 7(a) is common for startups and entrepreneurs.

These are special loans you can get if you're starting a business in a rural area. Have higher limits than SBA.

Revolving Loan Funds - you will find these for different areas. It's a pool of money used to stimulate economic development, sometimes with strings, but usually just per area.

The wild, wonderful world of grants, where you can find “free” money that always comes with strings attached. They're always changing and the grant you need may have closed last month and the only open ones are for different things, so you have to keep your ear to the ground.

Community Development Block Grants are run by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and have various criteria depending on the type of grant. Some are for profits, some not-for-profits and all need to be done in combination with a local government entity. They typically require the population to be 51+% low-to-moderate income (LMI).

Opportunity Zones allow investors to defer and potentially eliminate capital gains taxes by investing in Qualified Opportunity Funds for at least ten years.

NMTC offers a 39% tax credit over seven years for investments in community development entities.

WEDC’s Community Development Investment Grant Program helps transform communities by supporting local development that is as unique as the communities in Wisconsin. The CDI Grant Program will support urban, small city and rural community (re)development efforts by providing financial incentives for shovel-ready projects with emphasis on, but not limited to, downtown community-driven efforts.

• Development of a significant destination attraction
• Rehabilitation and reuse of an underutilized or landmark building
• Infill development
• Historic preservation
• Infrastructure efforts providing substantial benefits to downtown residents/property owners
• Mixed-use development

Funds may be used for:

• Building renovation
• Historic preservation
• Demolition
• New construction
• Infrastructure improvements

What if you took a makerspace, a coworking environment, a private club, a dance hall, an antique mall, RUMMAGE-O-RAMA, and an art gallery and put them all in the same place? That's the Jungle Gym. “There's nothing you can't do here.”

The Lounge is a place to relax. Ever get tired of the same places? Bored at home? Everywhere you go is trying to sell you something? Not here. There's a place for you, no matter who you are (unless you're super lame, no offense). We've got chill areas for queers, normies, even executives! We've got an indoor garden! We even have a dance hall! Watch movies, listen to your favorite albums on an unmatched sound system, flip vinyl in the album room, drink coffee, bring your own beverages and food to eat in a fun environment, rent the space(s) (member's only) and so much more!

Watch your favorite movies (picked by our members or curated by Riverwest Film and Video) on an amazing LASER PROJECTOR. With a 10,000:1 contrast ratio and WUXGA resolution, this is video like you've never seen before! Our sound system will also leave you stunned. You can even rent the space and have a movie night just for you and your friends (if available).

There's no good dance clubs in Milwaukee, let's be honest. Also, since we don't have to worry about being busted, we can have an absolutely outrageous sound system that we don't have to worry about getting seized! 6 GIANT SUBS and 15” monitors for an experience like none other. I've never heard a good sound system in Milwaukee, tell me if I'm wrong.

Don't like electronic music? Favorite band broke up? Singer dead? What if you could listen to their music on a concert-level sound system? Now you can! With regular favorites nights available to members only and the chance to play-your-own, there's nothing to miss out on! I'm telling you, you've never heard your favorite albums like this before. Custom-made line arrays and horn-loaded subs backed by thousands of watts of clean power. So loud it can permanently damage hearing (we just don't turn it up that loud, because why).

Our members can come and DJ their own nights, like having a live radio station. We'd also like to partner with WMSE and/or WUWM to have guest DJs, again, on our killer sound system.

Have an idea? Let's run with it. With rates so low you'll wonder if I lost my mind, at least until it fills up. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it, but for now you can rent it for $20/hr, how's that sound? Want to run a knitting class? $40. Done. You can even charge admission (we get a commission). This is how we help you help yourself help our community.

You have antiques you want to sell? You have brand new stuff you want to sell? You have new products you're trying to sell? You have arts and crafts you're trying to sell? Anything (legal) can be sold in the Bazaar. With space starting at only $20 (for a shelf section) there's no reason to miss out. $40 for a 4'x4' space OR buy more for $1/sqft! Renting retail space NNN can cost $12-24 per square foot after CAE and insurance, then you have to man the store, you have to get licenses. We do all that for you and only ask for 10% commission!

How does it work? You sign in with your membership, then scan the item, put in the price (range), and get a barcode. The sales are credited to you and can be cashed out at any time! We have cameras for security and offer self-checkout. We also list on eBay or facebook for $5/item. What about shipping? We can do that for you at a minimal cost, as well!

We also have our own store with discounted electronics, office supplies, and building materials. Everything for your business is sold in-house at below-market-rate. No running around town to pick up paper or pens (which we also provide so you probably won't need anyways). This is an additional source of income for us, and when the items go “extinct” they're recycled. We do electronics recycling and e-waste disposal in-house! You can even bring things in from your own business for FREE (members only).

One lounge spaces is integrated with an Indoor Garden! Surrounded by lush greenery and trickling water, it's a peaceful reprieve for anyone having the winter blues. With bright, full-spectrum lighting, it's also helpful for people with SAD. The Garden is not just for looks, though - we grow produce which can be purchased by our members. Herbs, lettuce, tomatoes, and more! Year Round! Did I mention it's aquaponics? It is. What's that? The plants and the fish form an ecosystem where they feed each other, like magic! You can even watch the fish swim with our mind-bending above-water fish turrets!

You even build things bro? You got an idea? Want to prototype something? Want to build out your own booth for The Bazaar, or build your own custom office, but don't have the tools? We'll show you how! 3D printing, Laser Engraving and Cutting, aluminum/wood CNC, woodworking, hand tools. While not as big as the Milwaukee Makerspace (who we recommend for larger projects) it has everything you need for doing repairs to electronics, building prototypes, and more, right there in house. Have an idea? Bust it out, quick!

This is actually the heart of The WHEREHOWS. Businessville is where the money is made and where the Businesses get started. We have coworking space, single and multiple office space, shared space (included), shared offices ($10/hr), shared conference rooms (2 hours free, then $10/hr). We help you get your LLC formed and then act as your RA, only $10/mo for members! We can handle your mail, your shipping, your printing, your scanning, literally everything you need except an accountant (although once we get established we'd like to have one in-house).

Let's talk business. Local folks can talk about what they know and offer “member seminars” which they charge for (10% commission) to talk about what they know. They can talk about financing, using technology, anything. We recommend low entry costs - $5 or donation, unless you're in high demand. We can handle 50+ people in our auditorium, 12 in our conference room. We're hoping to engage with some city folks and bring them in as well.