Welcome to
Sauk Valley Bank Foundation
Creating a positive impact and making a difference in our community.
Creating a positive impact and making a difference in our area through fostering community partnerships.
Who We Are
The Sauk Valley Bank Foundation was formed in 2022 as a non-profit entity with the purpose of improving the quality of life for families and small businesses within the communities served by Sauk Valley Bank. This is accomplished by assisting in the development and funding of affordable housing initiatives, as well as supporting lending and other financial incentives that encourage the formation and expansion of small businesses. All of this is done with the goal of strengthening the economic base of our local economies.
Our Mission
The Foundation looks to accomplish its mission in targeted areas through micro lending, financial programs and services to assist the emerging economic needs of the underserved and rural communities. Services such as this, allow the Foundation to provide non-traditional, necessary and impactful assistance in ways and with products not available to or through Sauk Valley Bank.
While the Foundation is organized and operated independently of the bank, the bank will support the Foundation with donations and contracted services, specifically focused on grant monitoring, housing programs and loan servicing for small business loan funds. The initial housing initiatives will be focused within the communities of Sterling and Dixon as supported by the documented lack of affordable housing through recent housing studies. We look forward to expanding the outreach to our other communities.
Our Board of Directors
We are grateful to the following individuals for joining the board of directors for the foundation. Their expertise and dedication to improving rural communities are invaluable. The board includes internal directors Dirk Meminger, Paige Toms, and Robert Hill; Brittany Shannon, VP of Marketing for Raynor Garage Doors; Kim Ewoldsen, Director of Regional Economic Development and Small Business Development Center at Sauk Valley Community College; Corey Gabler, Managing Member of Steel River Systems; and Daniel Payette, Executive Director at Blackhawk Hills Regional Council.
What’s Next
We recognize that every community in which Sauk Valley Bank operates could benefit from the efforts of the Foundation and look forward to serving all communities with a focus on small business lending and workforce housing.