MONROE — More than 150 community members gathered at Turner Hall in Monroe Friday, October 10 for a dynamic and energizing breakfast event that marked the beginning of an ambitious new chapter for Green County.

Hosted by the Green County Development Corporation (GCDC), the Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin (CFSW), and UW Extension — Green County, the event served as the local launchpad for exploring the creation of a Community Investment Fund — a sustainable, locally-driven fund designed to support projects in housing, entrepreneurship, childcare, and more. The goal: to keep local dollars circulating locally and empower residents to shape their own economic future.

The event featured keynote remarks from Jeff Yost, President and CEO of the Nebraska Community Foundation, whose compelling presentation spotlighted Nebraska’s statewide success in community wealth-building and grassroots endowment development. Attendees were challenged to imagine what’s possible when a community comes together to invest in itself.

Yost was joined by co-authors of the book Pulling Together: A handbook for Community Change, Tom Mosgaller and Mike Breininger. The three are currently traveling the state as part of a tour focused on the book and creating timely conversation around ownership, belonging, and the power of place-based solutions.

“This breakfast isn’t just an event,” said Olivia Otte, GCDC Executive Director. “It’s the beginning of something bigger. We’re exploring how Green County can build a fund by us, for us — one that supports real needs and real ideas, right here at home.”

Throughout the morning, there were lively discussions and moments of reflection, as community members responded to the call to action. Following the breakfast, a smaller roundtable session was held in the Turner Hall Ratskeller, where participants dug deeper into next steps, shared personal inspiration, and began mapping out how Green County could model successful strategies from across the Midwest.

Next steps will include continued community conversations, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement around the formation of the Community Investment Fund.

For those who missed the event and would like to learn more, contact GCDC at 608-328-9452 or gcdc@greencountydevelopment.com.